'Other countries recognise the young, M'sia recognises their parents'
Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is the latest to weigh in on Jocelyn Yow's success story as the Mayor of Eastvale, California saying that while foreign countries recognise the abilities of young people, Malaysia is busy recognising their parents.
"Many people say that Malaysia only appreciates its citizens (or those who have a relationship with Malaysia) when they have succeeded abroad. Maybe there is some truth to this.
"Also, foreign countries look at merit, while Malaysia looks at cronies," Syed Saddiq, the Muar MP who was ejected from Bersatu and heads his own Muda movement...
Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is the latest to weigh in on Jocelyn Yow's success story as the Mayor of Eastvale, California saying that while foreign countries recognise the abilities of young people, Malaysia is busy recognising their parents.
"Many people say that Malaysia only appreciates its citizens (or those who have a relationship with Malaysia) when they have succeeded abroad. Maybe there is some truth to this.
"Also, foreign countries look at merit, while Malaysia looks at cronies," Syed Saddiq, the Muar MP who was ejected from Bersatu and heads his own Muda movement.
Yow is a 25-year-old American whose father is from Alor Setar, Kedah, and whose mother came to the US as a refugee from Vietnam.
Yow, who studied at the University of California, Berkeley, and is now pursuing a master’s degree in government at Harvard Extension School, is reportedly the youngest woman from a minority race to serve as a mayor of a Calfornia city.
She is also an advocate for more female representation in politics.
"I see there are some lessons we can take from this Jocelyn Yow story.
Imagine, she's 25 years old but she's already given big responsibility as the mayor in Eastvale, California," Syed Saddiq said.
"In Malaysia, the leadership duties are still given to the old, given that they have more experience.
"This should not be an excuse for our country to keep our eyes closed and not give young people a chance to lead. Give us space to speak, lead the community, represent the people," he said.
Syed Saddiq also took aim at Malaysia's lack of meritocracy, saying that political connections were deemed more important than ability.
"Out there, space and opportunity are available to those who work hard and sincerely carry out responsibilities to the community.
"But in Malaysia, it's a different story. If you don't have a political relationship, a relationship with a crony or you yourself don't become a politician, the chance to take a leadership role is hard.
"Just look at the number of politicians leading GLC in our country," he said, pointing to a spate of appointments of government backbenchers to top posts by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin upon taking power.
He said that Yow's success story would be hard to find in a Malaysian system in which cronyism is ingrained.
"I'm always happy to see successful Malaysians in and out of the country. True, Jocelyn is an American citizen, but I believe her success is inspiring many young people and women of Malaysia.
"If other countries can do it, Malaysia must be able to. All that is needed is political will and determination to build a country together," Syed Saddiq said.
Earlier Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng had also lauded Yow and urged young Malaysians abroad not to give up on the country but to come back and help it improve.
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