Saddiq: Why should I quit as MP when others betrayed voters?

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has snubbed calls from his critics urging him to vacate his seat after he quit the government bloc in Parliament.

The Muda president argued that it was not he who strayed from promises to voters in the 15th general election (GE15).

“What platform did we (Muda and Pakatan Harapan) campaign on? Before GE15, we vowed not to drop corruption (cases), to fight corruption, to bring reforms.

“But the difference between what was promised before the elections and after is astronomical,” he said in response to critics during a social media livestream tonight.

He cited how Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi - whom Harapan vowed to bring to justice for corruption - instead had the charges against him withdrawn.

Syed Saddiq also said reforms promised by Harapan were now “buried”.

“If I must empty my seat for wanting to fight corruption, I suggest you buy a mirror for those MPs or ministers who also pledged the same (during the GE15 campaign).

“You all have to vacate your seats too.

“Since when were you elected to free (those charged) for corruption? Are you willing to vacate your seats then?” he said.

During GE15, Muda had an electoral pact with Harapan.

Critics from Harapan claimed the Muda president was re-elected as a lawmaker because of this pact.

The Muar MP exited the government bloc in protest of the prosecution withdrawing charges against Zahid in the Yayasan Akalbudi corruption case.

Doubts about Attorney-General’s Chambers

Earlier in the livestream, Syed Saddiq cast doubt on the government’s claim that the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) had acted independently in withdrawing the charges against the deputy prime minister.

He said Harapan themselves - including leaders who are now ministers - claimed the AGC was not independent, such as when former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali claimed Najib Abdul Razak did not commit any wrongdoing in the 1MDB case.

He then cited how Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim himself - prior to GE15 - alleged that his earlier bid to become prime minister in 2020 failed because he would not compromise on letting those who had court cases free.

Meanwhile, he also cited how Anwar was briefed by Idrus Harun - the attorney-general when Zahid’s charges were withdrawn - about the AGC’s move.

Anwar said he chose not to interfere with the attorney-general’s decision.

Besides this, Syed Saddiq said it was questionable why the lead prosecutor in Zahid’s trial - who succeeded in proving a prima facie case - chose to retire early “out of the blue”.

The AGC has said that the decision to withdraw charges against Zahid was to allow further investigations and to avoid a miscarriage of justice.

Stick to principles

Touching on his earlier mentioned decision to become a “third force” in the Dewan Rakyat, the Muda president acknowledged it would be a “long and lonely road” going forward.

However, he said he had to stick with his principles.

“Let it be if I am punished, as long as I don’t sacrifice my principles,” he said.

He also assured that if the government needs a two-thirds majority to legislate reforms - such as for equal citizenship rights and separating the attorney-general’s office - he would give them his support.

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