By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Aug 24: The proposal by former Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul to set up a youth based party is an interesting political development in Malaysia, but he is not qualified to lead it, opined Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
He said such a proposed new youth based party will appeal to young voters especially those above 18.
“His proposal to set up a youth based party is very interesting. But I think he’s not qualified to lead it. He’s too young,” Masing told DayakDaily here today.
He pointed out that when he (Syed Saddiq) was one of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) cabinet members, he was one of its leaders who made many U-turns and not consistent with his policy on many issues related to his ministry.
Masing, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, was commenting on news report today that Syed Saddiq, has confirmed that he will not be joining Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s new party Pejuang.
The former PPBM youth chief, 27, and also Muar MP, will instead form his own political party which will be multiracial and youth-centric.
“If in Thailand they can set up Future Forward, in France they can set up ‘En Marche’ under (current French President Emmanuel) Macron, I think it is timely in Malaysia to start up a movement made of young people.
“Of young technocrats, professionals, young politicians from different backgrounds to come together to ensure that the youth’s voice will dominate in Parliament and outside of Parliament, that in the end, the youth can never be taken lightly any more.
“It is timely today so that politics will never be chained by the same people, being controlled and monopolised by the same old people,” Syed Saddiq told Channel NewsAsia while campaigning for the Pejuang candidate in Slim today.-DayakDaily
