Muda no one-man show, Syed Saddiq no puppet - leaders

INTERVIEW | It was well established that Muda MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was once Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s protege, following the former's meteoric success from national debater to a cabinet minister.

However, after the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan administration, the pair split to form their own parties – with Mahathir fronting yet another right-wing Malay rights party in Pejuang and Syed Saddiq teaming up with people his own age in Muda.

Nonetheless, questions have persisted if Muda will be lured into an alliance with the savvy former prime minister because the two leaders were once close.

In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini, other leaders from Muda clarified that Syed Saddiq’s relationship with Mahathir was not a cause of concern for the party.

“Muda goes beyond Syed Saddiq. It is bigger than him or anyone else in the top leadership posts,” said the party’s secretary-general Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz.

Muda vice-president Lim Wei Jiet said that although Syed Saddiq spearheaded the party, there was more to it than him.

“There are many other leaders who are persons of their own, and they have their own way of thinking and how to bring the party forward. Muda is not one person,” he said.

Lim dismissed rumours that Syed Saddiq’s relationship with Mahathir could extend to anything beyond professionalism.

“I have been a co-founder of the party since day one and at no point in time was there any kind of interference or secret dealings with Mahathir.

“We decided to do our own stuff in Muda and he is pursuing his agenda with Pejuang.

“I do think that people see Syed Saddiq as a man of his own. He has his own ideas and visions for Malaysia, many (of) which are contrary to what Mahathir believes. And so I do think that there is no longer any kind of association between them.

“They may know each other on a friendship level, but that doesn't mean that they are aligned politically,” Lim added.

Syed Saddiq was widely seen as Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s blue-eyed boy - being one of the original nine founding members of Bersatu, and the party’s youth chief when Mahathir was its chairperson.

The group was kicked out of Bersatu after they sat with the opposition in Parliament in May. Mahathir then announced that he is forming a new party called Pejuang.

This is in line with the right-wing Malay agenda that has seen him head Umno, Bersatu, Pejuang and link up in the past with Ibrahim Ali's Perkasa.

However, Mahathir’s protege decided to take an entirely different direction to form Muda instead – a progressive youth-centric political party open to all races.

Mahathir criticised Muda, claiming doubts that the multiracial all-youth party would be successful.

He later clarified that he was referring to the new party’s survivability in elections, as it would only divide the support of voters, especially among Malays.

Asked about Muda’s relationship with Pejuang, Amir Hariri Abdul Hadi denied any collaboration between the two.

Lim said that the only similarity between the parties is the desire to not see corrupt politicians voted into power.

“I don't think that there's any kind of association or relationship or similar agenda beyond that I can foresee,” he added.

In bed with Warisan

In the same week of Muda’s registration last December, the party was seen being swiftly embraced by Sabah-based Warisan at the latter’s national launch, formalising its 15th general election alliance.

This led to concerns over what this could mean for the political landscape of the next general election.

While Amanah president Mohamad Sabu does not view any collaboration between Warisan and Muda as a threat to the Pakatan Harapan coalition, DAP's Sungai Pelek assemblyperson Ronnie Liu expressed fears that the pact could give the DAP-PKR-Amanah axis a "big headache".

Disputing this, Amira (above)explained that Muda has been working closely with all parties in the Harapan coalition.

“We have been working closely with all Harapan parties, including joining protests for Undi18, the protest to open up Parliament, fighting for equal allocation for all constituents, signing the statutory declaration for Anwar Ibrahim, flood missions and many more.

“Muda has always believed that it’s better to make allies than enemies, especially when we are working towards the same goal,” Amira said.

Amir echoed these views, saying that he felt that some may be purporting this view as they were unhappy with the party’s arrival in the political arena.

“Our ‘lack' of cooperation with Harapan is just a perception that some individuals - who may not be happy with Muda’s presence - are trying to create.

“In fact, Syed Saddiq himself was among those who mobilised efforts to unite the opposition to support the same candidate after (former prime minister) Muhyiddin (Yassin) lost the majority.

“But for now, Muda has established an official collaboration with Warisan. We are also in the process of negotiations and discussions with all opposition parties.

“It all depends on the negotiation process later. Muda certainly has its own views and demands. I don't feel there will be an easy path for Umno, or any party in GE15, whatever the situation,” he said.

A united opposition

Asked if the contesting of Muda in the next general election could risk splintering votes for the opposition, Amira said that the Opposition had always understood the danger in splitting votes.

“That is why Muda has always championed for a united opposition.

“GE14 was the best example that when we’re united against a common enemy, united against corruption, we’ll be able to create significant change for the rakyat,” she said.

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This is the final part of our three-part series on leaders of Muda.

Part 1: Meet the faces behind Muda

Part 2: New generation must rise for M'sia to roar as 'Asian tiger' again