DAP and MCA are singing different tunes over Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's decision to turn down an Oxford scholarship worth about RM400,000.

Lim Kit Siang praised Syed Saddiq for choosing to “struggle for a better Malaysia” instead of accepting the scholarship, and described him as a model for young Malays and Malaysians.

The DAP veteran even claimed the 25-year-old politician had the potential of becoming the youngest cabinet minister in Malaysia after the next general election.

He said Syed Saddiq was a refreshing example at a time when the prime minister, ministers and top civil servants fail to distinguish between right and wrong.

“There are no more Syed Saddiqs in Umno/BN – as they are only to be found in the Pakatan Harapan coalition of DAP, PKR, Amanah and Bersatu,” he added in a statement.

However, MCA's public complaints and services bureau chairperson Jason Teoh disagreed with Lim showering accolades on the Bersatu Youth chief.

“What kind of message does this send to our children?

“I would like to remind Lim that not all children in Malaysia are privileged enough to reject a scholarship, better yet one from Oxford, for any reason whatsoever. To many parents, education for their children is something they struggle very hard to provide for them,” he added.

Teoh accused Lim of sowing in the minds of the youth the belief that it is permissible to be reckless with their future for the sake of championing a political ideology or cause.

“Lim and all his supporters should be ashamed for advocating such a reckless move, and even worse, praising the fact that Syed publicised the matter by holding a press conference (which) cheapened the offer from Oxford.

“Syed’s antic was nothing but a case of cheap publicity that was lapped up by the people, especially netizens,” he said.

Teoh also claimed that Lim's praise for Syed Saddiq proved that the DAP leader would leave no stone unturned to win federal power in the polls.

“...he will do anything to take over Putrajaya, from empowering PAS to a kingmaker status, forgiving his arch nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and now to praising a foolish decision by an immature politician,” he said.