Syed
Saddiq has the youth behind him. He is charismatic, articulate, and
good-looking. The same cannot be said of Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Bersatu’s
number two.
If you recall, Syed Saddiq was charged during Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional administration.
If
you dare to speak out and question your elders, you are seen as a
threat. From our observations, the people who occupy the PM’s seat
demand absolute loyalty.
Syed Saddiq upset two former PMs. He rebuffed Muhyiddin. He rejected Dr Mahathir’s Pejuang party.
He
questioned Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s DNAA last
September and withdrew his support for Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition
government.
For the Madani administration, Zahid is
worth his weight in gold. Without Zahid commanding Umno-Baru to support
Pakatan Harapan, there would be no coalition government.
What
is Muda to the Madani administration? It is only a minor party and that
may explain why attempts by Muda to have discussions with PKR/Harapan
came to naught.
‘Deterrent sentence’
Wan
Shaharuddin acknowledged Syed Saddiq’s contributions to society but he
said that the message of a stiff sentence should be delivered because of
the “multiple CBT cases taking place nowadays”.
Well,
whose fault is that? Who allowed the sharks in the political world to
escape scot-free? Not just in the world of politics but in the civil
service and the GLC too. What happened to the law enforcers?
The
DPP also said, “We the prosecution pray that the accused, after serving
his sentence, would come out as not only a better individual but also a
better politician and a better member of society.
“He (Syed Saddiq) is young and there is plenty of time for him to change his ways, and may he repent (insaf) over the offence committed.”
Did they demand the same of the handful of corrupt politicians who were successfully convicted and punished?
If
the DPP truly wanted an effective deterrent, then they should demand
stricter enforcement without fear and favour, and perhaps three-quarters
of the politicians in Parliament would be languishing in jail now.
It
took years for the convicted felon, Najib Abdul Razak, to be tried. All
of his former cabinet protested his innocence and weaved the fairy tale about the Arab prince.
Muda remains our hope for the future
Syed
Saddiq apologised and stepped down as president of Muda whilst he
cleared his name. None of the old guards have that sort of integrity.
Najib never apologised for stealing taxpayers’ money. Mahathir has never
said sorry for dividing the nation.
In the past,
many corrupt senior politicians feigned sickness or ran off to Mecca to
escape our scrutiny when media attention on their corrupt activities
dominated newspaper headlines.
Today, these men and
women have climbed up the greasy pole of society and politics to make up
for lost time, but Syed has been made an example of a corrupt, money
laundering MP, whilst the real sharks are allowed to flee.
Was Syed Saddiq’s charge and sentencing a stitch-up from the time he upset former and current PMs?
When all the heavyweights gang up on Syed Saddiq, you know that he is doing the right thing. He will bounce back.
Don’t dismiss Muda because its leaders are committed to a progressive Malaysia.
Engage
with them, talk to their acting president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz. Learn
about their vision for Malaysia. I have, many times. I have no doubt
about their passion and commitment.
They represent the change we need for Malaysia’s survival. They carry our hopes for the future.
