Syed Saddiq muddies Muda's water

 

“Amira reiterated that Muda is only engaged with PSM, specifically to raise issues concerning people across religions, races and skin colours.” – From reportage

Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is an ordinary member of Muda but uses his prominence as a former minister and a press-chasing political operative to hamstring the political party he created.

His recent presser of joining Perikatan Nasional on a roadshow to highlight the plight of the people is complete horse manure.

Syed Saddiq (above) said about this so-called “neutral” platform - “Regardless of whether from political parties or outside of politics so that in the end (the tour) is not about Muda, not about PN, not about Syed Saddiq or Muhyiddin (Yassin) but it is about the plight of the people that must be prioritised,” is not only disingenuous but also demonstrates why people have always viewed him with suspicion.

This unfortunately affects how people view Muda.

This is about Syed Saddiq and how he wants to remain relevant and perhaps escape whatever fate awaits him in this politically turbulent time. Even Umno Youth deputy chief Mohd Hairi Mad Shah had to remind Syed Saddiq not to act as if “…. he is the fighter who brought the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre (TMIYC) project and ensured it was completed.

“This effort is driven by the Regent of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and the Johor government,” which further illustrates how badly Syed Saddiq wants to be effective but does not want to put in the hard work that is required.

Different stance

Muda acting president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz in a quote that opens this piece reiterated the party’s political stance specifically defining “people” as transcending religion, race and skin colour which is directly in contrast with what PN stands for.

With PN we are dealing with a coalition unshackled by the requirements of multiculturalism or power-sharing, which was always a farce anyway, and purely operating on racial and religious imperatives in which they hope to impose majoritarian rule.

Muda acting president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz

These people continue to gaslight the public with terms like democracy and anti-corruption and are aided by a mainstream establishment which does not have the political will to stop them because it fears spooking the Malays.

The fact that Syed Saddiq blindsided his party with this move demonstrates the kind of person he is and truthfully, he would fit right in with the rest of the race hustlers and religious hucksters which is PN.

Indeed on social media Muda has been attempting to highlight issues which affect Malaysians, especially those from the lower income brackets.

Together with PSM, Muda has also been attempting to form an alternate narrative than that from the mainstream political parties which is defined (rightfully) for non-Malay voters by fear.

Muda not only has to contend with PN but also the supposedly democratic and progressive coalition government. More importantly, they have to contend with the Pakatan Harapan base which claims to want a better Malaysia but in reality, only wants to replicate Umno/BN era politics and policies.

Young people, especially from the Malay community, are disenchanted with mainstream politics. They view PN as a workable alternative to the power-sharing formula which, after decades of propagandising, has taught them is to their expense.

Muda secretary-general Amir Hariri Abd Hadi’s remarks that “We want to firmly remind all parties once again not to arbitrarily issue statements that go beyond the party’s decisions,” is one way of telling Syed Saddiq to keep his mouth shut.

For a better Malaysia

Keep in mind that the person who announced this roadshow was Muhyddin, an old comrade of Syed Saddiq from his Bersatu days, and good old Syed Saddiq was not above playing the race and religion card when it came to culture wars that afflict Malaysians.

The Muar MP defended his reservations against the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, was busy signing online petitions to ban Oktoberfest in Selangor and pressuring P Waymoorthy to resign from his minister post after his objections as to how the Seafield Temple fiasco was handled and portrayed by the press and the state security apparatus.

And look at the record of PN when it comes to people-centric issues. The failure of PN-led governments in certain states has demonstrated that PN political operatives are more than willing to lead the Malay community to the slaughterhouse - as long as PN political operatives can benefit from the gravy train that powers the ketuanan (supremacy) bureaucracy.

Nobody ever goes to PN- or PAS-controlled states to look for employment, right? They come to the “infidelic” states where supposedly the Malays are oppressed. So much for thinking about “the people”.

Now of course all of this could be overlooked if Syed Saddiq really had a road to Damascus moment and decided that he wanted to change the political landscape in this country for the better.

This, however, is not on the cards. By doing this, Syed Saddiq has not only compromised his party but also PSM. As it is, both parties are attempting to do something which could change Malaysia. My opinion is that it is too late but all we have is the struggle.

It is a pity that Syed Saddiq does not take a page from PSM co-founder Mohana Rani Rasiah’s playbook. When PSM suffered a wipeout as reported in the press Rani said the loss deeply affected her but “… it also taught her that more needed to be done to expose the electorate to the values espoused by PSM, and this meant canvassing for votes in a way she is most comfortable in - providing service.

Maybe Muda will listen. - Mkini

S THAYAPARAN is Commander (Rtd) of the Royal Malaysian Navy. Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum - “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.