Is Muda luring young voters for PN?

MAHKOTA BY-ELECTION | The conspicuous presence of a Muda grassroots member during a Perikatan Nasional ceramah in Kluang, Johor, last night raised questions about the party’s future political direction. 

Speaking at the ceramah, PN information chief Azmin Ali claimed that the Muda member, who was wearing a party vest, was helping PN’s campaign for the Mahkota by-election.

He also claimed that Muda offered to reach out to some 52 percent of youth voters for the Sept 28 polls.

According to Harakah Daily, Azmin also said that Muda’s decision to assist PN was conveyed to him by a representative of the party’s acting president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz.

However, a source close to the Muda leadership revealed that there is no “permission or prohibition” with regard to its members backing PN.

“There’s no confirmation of Muda supporting or campaigning for any political parties. 

“All official statements on the party’s direction will be communicated by Muda only,” the source told Malaysiakini.

To date, the source said no decision has been made on the party’s stand, with its political bureau’s next meeting scheduled for sometime next week after Amira’s wedding.

“Muda is currently in a rejuvenation process,” said the source when asked about the party’s move to sit out of several recent by-elections, including Mahkota.

‘Never said he would help’

Meanwhile, a second Muda source said the grassroots member was “invited” by Kluang PN to attend last night’s ceramah and that he was a local known to both PN candidate Haizan Jaafar and also his BN opponent Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah.

“He (the member) told me, he said (to PN) that he’s waiting for a decision by the Muda leadership on whether to help the campaign or not.

“He did not say he would help,” said the source. 

In the 2022 Johor state election, Amira won her Puteri Wangsa state seat - also in Johor - with the assistance of Pakatan Harapan.

Subsequently, former Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman defended his Muar parliamentary seat in the 15th general election against BN and PN, partly through an agreement reached with Harapan for the coalition not to field its own candidate.

Last September, Saddiq withdrew support for Harapan and moved to sit on the opposition bench in the Dewan Rakyat.

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