YOURSAY | Jury still out on Syed Saddiq and Muda

YOURSAY | ‘He will really need to prove himself with good deeds for a sustained period…’

COMMENT | Sizing up Syed Saddiq

Undecided: This article by P Gunasegaram may dampen the enthusiasm surrounding Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and his newly formed Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda), but what created the excitement in the first place was that many older voters are convinced that the present political leadership is not capable of addressing the aspirations of our younger generation. Further, Muda is multiracial, unlike Bersatu and Perjuang.

Those who support Syed Saddiq will probably conclude that he is just ambitious and obligated to give support to his mentor, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and some of his fellow MPs in Bersatu as well as the other coalition parties.

Pakatan Harapan failed mainly because Bersatu's racial slant was not in sync with the other coalition parties’ support base and Syed Saddiq may have now finally concluded that without unity and racial harmony, there is no future for Malaysia.

VP Biden: Compare Syed Saddiq with former PKR leader Rafizi Ramli, who was handcuffed, jailed, stopped from participating in GE14, went around the country giving ceramahs on a truck prior to GE14, helped expose the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) and 1MDB scandals (along with DAP leader Tony Pua), it's clear who the real leader is.

Be wary and cautious of this "kingmaker". As for Rafizi, please return to federal politics. The nation needs you.

DalvinK: Overall, I think this piece on Syed Saddiq is fair. I remember telling myself last year, "okay, just another politician" when Syed Saddiq didn't mean what he said - first calling controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik to be deported, and then invited him for dinner.

I can see a majority of commentators on Malaysiakini were excited about Muda - yes, it is refreshing to have a young politician who seems passionate and attempts to speak for all Malaysians.

But I'd hold my horse to see how Syed Saddiq will turn words into actions, especially coming from a debating champion.

I agree with @VP Biden, there are more politicians who deserve our attention. My first candidate would be Rafizi. He made a lot of sacrifices (a high paying job to start with) but sadly he chose to fade away due to PKR's infighting.

I'd put my money on Rafizi - he has so far turned a lot of things into action, ie not just lip service. I hope he will come back soon.

Across The Straits: I do give Syed Saddiq the benefit of doubt on whether he is truly Malaysian-centric in his leaning.

Whatever he has been through must surely be part of the learning curve. If having figured out after the last five years in Malaysian politics makes him want to champion a truly Malaysian cause, he is still worth supporting.

It is the best of the few nasty choices in front of us.

PeakyBlinder: The past is already the past, give Syed Saddiq a chance to redeem himself before bashing him for his past actions.

There is sheer genuine passion within him to change the whole Malaysian political landscape through forming an all-inclusive political party.

What have you seen from the other politicians? Do they warrant the same praise for Syed Saddiq for being brave enough to stand up for the young and unite Malaysia as a truly Malaysian Malaysia?

DalvinK: Isn't that similar to when we sort of ‘forgave’ Mahathir when he came back for GE14?

We (I myself included) did the same and look at where we're at now. So I don't believe a person can change that easily.

Hmmmmmmmm: Syed Saddiq’s support for Zakir will leave a very bad taste in my mouth for a very long time.

He will really need to prove himself with good deeds for a sustained period to win back our confidence. We have been well bitten by his mentor and this will make his job of convincing us that much harder.

PW Cheng: Gunasegaram, I respect your credentials as an analyst, columnist and researcher for the past 30 over years.

I guess your age is not too far away from mine. If we were to look back for the last 40 plus years when we were about Syed Saddiq’s age, are you telling me you have not made any mistakes?

It’s how we deal with our mistakes and correct them that makes us a better person. "Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to error that counts,” said poet Nikki Giovanni.

I hope you look on the brighter side and give this young man a chance and not brood on his mistakes.

MS: Thank you, Gunasegaram, for this reality check. Much needed I'd say, given the many false prophets and fake saviours desperate Malaysians have had to suffer over the decades.

My only amused reaction to his reported Singapore sojourn was triggered by the news that he would learn the intricacies of public policy and leadership at an establishment named after the old man's nemesis, Lee Kuan Yew - and not at the Mahathir School of Mendacity and Bigotry.

That, I say, is a resounding slap on the faces of his erstwhile Bersatu and Pejuang colleagues.

IndigoTrout2522: It would not be prudent to compare Syed Saddiq to Mahathir. No one is perfect and people do evolve over time.

PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim was a Malay youth extremist and so are most Umno, PAS and other Malay politicians. While the younger ones would evolve and change, the older ones like Mahathir, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and the like would not change and anyone could see it unless they chose not to.

Syed Saddiq is still young. Give him a chance and the space to grow. Malaysia needs to have a younger generation of leaders who would not look at race and religion alone but also the haves and have-nots.

If we become so judgemental and expect a perfectionist at this early age, you will not find anyone and just keep the current crops of proven extremists.

Sure, keep an eye on all politicians, young and old, and watch their words and deeds. A good example is former PKR leader Azmin Ali, whose words and actions are not in sync and had become obvious for many years.

ScarletTuna4168: I do agree that it’s still too early to tell what Muda’s impact will be and it’s important not to rush into things.

But Muda is a breath of fresh air in our current political landscape and I appreciate the initiative.

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