KUALA LUMPUR – Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said he would rather Muda stay in the opposition than join the Umno-PKR alliance, even if the two parties may form the government in the future.
Umno is not open to reform, especially when it comes to combating corruption and eliminating the centralisation of power, said the Muda co-founder.
Syed Saddiq told Mingguan Malaysia that although he supports the movement to make opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim prime minister, it should not come at the cost of cooperating with “kleptocrats” and long-time foe Umno.
“My stance is that I am still in the opposition bloc. I have no problem supporting Anwar, I support his reform policies.
“If he suddenly says, ‘Saddiq, come join the government with Zahid and Najib’, I will say, ‘it’s okay, I refuse’. I will not compromise in our fight against kleptocracy,” said the Muar MP, referring to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
He added that he would be seen as the biggest hypocrite should he and Muda join the Umno-PKR alliance.
The youth movement is committed to strengthening the reform agenda and improving the nation’s socio-economic status, even if it has to go it alone, he said.
Syed Saddiq said Muda sees that amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the people have grown fed up with the relentless politicking.
He said Malaysians want a leader who will defend them, and are committed to providing checks and balances to the government.
On March 16, Anwar said it was premature to say PKR and Pakatan Harapan would cooperate with Umno in the 15th general election.
There is “no official cooperation”, he added.
About a week later, Zahid quashed speculation of political cooperation with PKR in GE15.
However, earlier this month, an audio clip purportedly of Anwar and Zahid in conversation was leaked.
In the recording, “Zahid” and “Anwar” exchanged pleasantries, with the latter saying it was his first time following the Umno assembly in full in the last 22 years, and describing the former’s speech as good.
The PKR president also seemed to congratulate “Zahid”, saying he was proud of the latter over the speech given, to which “Zahid” said it was Anwar who taught him.
The two are known to be old friends, going back to the late 1990s when Anwar was Umno deputy president and Zahid, the party’s Youth chief. – The Vibes, April 25, 2021
