'Muda's survival now depends on next leader after Syed Saddiq'
Published on: Tuesday, November 14, 2023
By: Malay Mail
Syed Saddiq was convicted of misappropriation of funds belonging to Armada — the Youth wing of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia — where he had served as its chief three years ago. (Malay Mail pic)
GEORGE TOWN: The survival of Muda now depends on the party’s choice of leader, according to political analysts.
Universiti Malaya sociopolitical analyst Associate Professor Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the party should have a lot of capable leaders who could take over Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman as party president.
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“They should have a replacement leader who is more capable, clean and able to play an active role in the party,” he said.
He said Muda leaders should put forward someone more authoritative for the role.
Professor of Asian Studies from the University of Tasmania James Chin said there are people who can replace Syed Saddiq but they will not have the same kind of profile as him.
“Muda is tied to Syed Saddiq so it has to bring out more personalities,” he said.
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Awang Azman said the party is in a gloomy situation now due to Syed Saddiq’s recent conviction.
“Most importantly, it doesn’t have strong support after leaving Pakatan Harapan so in the long term, Muda potentially may no longer be relevant in politics,” he said.
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He said it is a small party that will find it hard when pitted against PH, Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.
However, Chin said Muda’s survival depends on whether young people will still be willing to join the party.
He said it was an interesting party that started out as a social movement.
“So the ability of the social movement and young political party to survive in the long run depends on whether the current group in the party will carry on the work,” he said.
He said the party will have no future if the current group leave it as they are the key element to ensure the party’s future.
“Most probably, people will not leave. They are waiting for the appeal (of Syed Saddiq’s conviction). People are waiting and see till the end of the legal process,” he said.
Senior Fellow of Singapore Institute of International Affairs Oh Ei Sun said the party lacked direction and proper internal organisation.
“It could not find a political niche for itself, as testified by its failure to win seats in successive elections,” Oh said.
He said the party needs to have a message beyond youthfulness.
Chin said Muda will have to win seats in Malaysia to be taken seriously.
He noted that it would not be easy to win seats as they need good candidates and resources to do so.
When asked if Muda will survive by switching its support back to PH, Oh said whether they support the ruling coalition or not was not the issue.
“You cannot hope to somehow ‘rub off’ PH’s support to add to your support,” he said.
He said they would then end up “electorally parasitic just like MCA and Gerakan” towards the end of the BN government.
Syed Saddiq announced his decision to step down as party president after he was convicted of corruption charges on November 9.
The Muar MP will continue to hold his seat while he appealed against the court decision.
Muda deputy chairman Amira Aisya Abd Aziz is currently the party’s acting president.
Syed Saddiq was convicted of the misappropriation of funds belonging to Armada — the Youth wing of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia — where he had served as its chief three years ago.
High Court Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid said the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt on the charges against Syed Saddiq.
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