Malaysia

We could be worthy: Muda’s Wei Jiet, on quest to secure allies’ trust

Come back and vote out ‘archaic’ leaders, party co-founder urges Johoreans out of state

Updated 2 years ago · Published on 04 Mar 2022 9:00AM

We could be worthy: Muda’s Wei Jiet, on quest to secure allies’ trust
Even with the introduction of 18-year-old voters under the automatic registration system, coupled with Muda being a new party, support from the youth is not set in stone, says the party’s central executive committee member Lim Wei Jiet. – EMMANUEL SANTA MARIA CHIN/The Vibes pic, March 4, 2022

by Emmanuel Santa Maria Chin

SEGAMAT – Stakes have never been higher for youth-based party Muda, which is determined to secure vital wins for their contested seats in Johor and lift the confidence of fellow opposition parties by proving its worth in the eyes of voters and their allies.

Speaking to The Vibes, Muda’s central executive committee member Lim Wei Jiet said the election presents an opportunity for the infant party to prove that support for it goes beyond the realms of social media.

The 31-year-old father of one admitted that even with the introduction of 18-year-old voters under the automatic registration system, coupled with Muda being a new party, support from the youth is not set in stone.

“You cannot really predict how the youth are going to vote, so we have to work very hard.

We cannot assume that they will vote for Muda just because we are a youth-based party,” he said.

Lim, however, said Muda, being led by the youth, would be able to better relate to the issues the younger generation is grappling with.

“What we can offer is we are a party that tries to allocate for more youth representation, and fight for youth-specific issues that are close to their hearts.

“So, Johor is a sort of litmus test on whether we have actual support on the ground,” he said.

Muda, a party spearheaded by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, was officially recognised as a political entity only in December, following apparent resistance from the government and its related agencies.

Following several court cases and judicial reviews, the Home Ministry was finally compelled by the judiciary to officially register Muda as a political party under the Registrar of Societies.

Muda central executive committee member Lim Wei Jiet says the party, being led by the youth, would be able to better relate to the issues the younger generation is grappling with. – EMMANUEL SANTA MARIA CHIN/The Vibes pic, March 4, 2022
Muda central executive committee member Lim Wei Jiet says the party, being led by the youth, would be able to better relate to the issues the younger generation is grappling with. – EMMANUEL SANTA MARIA CHIN/The Vibes pic, March 4, 2022

Sheraton Move: birth of Muda?

Lim, former Muda vice president and one of the party’s co-founders, explained how the party aims to promote greater youth representation within decision-making positions, saying it was high time to phase out older, “irrelevant” politicians.

He explained how the party was formed in retaliation against the famed Sheraton Move coup that caused the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government and the birth of Perikatan Nasional.

“We felt there was something very wrong in Malaysian politics and the fact that it is still dominated by older politicians who have since lost their relevance.

That is why we wanted a new force, where there is more youth representation in places of power, which is very abysmal numerically at the moment,” he pointed out.

Possible victory in Johor polls not a fast track to general election wins

Being a party aligned with the opposition, Lim stressed the need for all like-minded parties to appear united in order to be considered a viable option at the ballot box by voters.

However, Lim disagreed with the notion that Muda’s potential victory in Johor would translate to them being able to bargain for more parliamentary seats under the opposition bloc in a general election.

“I don’t think it’s the case that we win in Johor and we can demand a certain number of seats at the general election.

“I look at it from a perspective that we can be considered as equal partners within the opposition bloc through our performance here, more so that our opposition members can have confidence in Muda being able to gather the votes,” he said.

Request for Larkin not unreasonable

When questioned about Muda’s decision to field its candidate in Larkin, a seat contested by PKR, Lim defended his party, saying Muda’s request to contest there was not unreasonable.

He said Muda was not asking to contest in PKR incumbent seats, but rather in localities where its former ally Bersatu had contested.

“We managed to reach an agreement with DAP and Amanah, but with PKR, we couldn’t reach an agreement.

I cannot divulge information about the negotiation process, as I was not privy to it, but what I can say is that what Muda requested was not unreasonable,” he said.

Lim added that Muda’s decision to field Rasid Abu Bakar in Larkin was also due to his popularity among locals there.

“We decided to field a candidate who is a local there and has done the groundwork, so that was how the decision was made,” he added.

Muda’s central executive committee member Lim Wei Jiet says the party was not asking to contest in PKR incumbent seats, but rather in localities where its former ally Bersatu had contested. – EMMANUEL SANTA MARIA CHIN/The Vibes pic, March 4, 2022
Muda’s central executive committee member Lim Wei Jiet says the party was not asking to contest in PKR incumbent seats, but rather in localities where its former ally Bersatu had contested. – EMMANUEL SANTA MARIA CHIN/The Vibes pic, March 4, 2022

Growing pains

Lim, a lawyer by profession, recalled the struggles faced by Muda as it competes in its maiden election, with the obvious disparity between itself and larger parties seen when comparing machinery sizes.

He said even elementary matters such as filing up candidates’ nomination papers was a new experience for everyone in the party, with new lessons being learned as they moved along.

“We definitely lack ground presence in Tenang compared to the more established parties that have been here for decades.

“But it doesn’t mean that we are weaker, as we do have our own supporters and volunteers coming down from other states to help us out,” he said.

Lim also spoke about how being a local of Johor also meant shouldering more responsibility and expectations to deliver from fellow party members and the public at large, but said he welcomed the fresh challenge.

It has been a steep learning curve, trying to navigate Tenang personally for me, but it has been an interesting experience, having to deal with many different personalities and interests.

“There is something new that I am learning every hour, so you have to show confidence and leadership to your team, and that you have a direction in mind.

“Of course, there is added pressure on me to lead the charge; I just want Muda to do well,” he quipped.

Boosting Tenang’s eco-tourism a key goal

Lim, who is contesting in the four-cornered fight for Tenang, said he aims to elevate marketability and create more jobs for the youth by tapping into newer and emerging industries.

He said among those in his sights, should he win the seat, is boosting Tenang’s eco-tourism sector, which he said, besides bringing in more tourists to the area, would trigger an economical spillover that will benefit local businesses.

The Tenang state constituency has a demographic of almost 60% Malays, about 38% Chinese voters, and 2% Indian voters, with incumbents over the years being Umno and Bersatu representatives. 

There are hot springs and waterfalls in the area where there is a lot of potential,” he said.

Lim then expressed views consistent with those aired by voters as previously explored by The Vibes, saying he plans to change the narrative of elected representatives becoming an elusive figure after winning the seat.

“As a result, a lot of problems and issues are not able to be ventilated and expressed, so they want a boots-on-the-ground representative, and that’s what we hope to achieve,” he said.

Lim, who is contesting in the four-cornered fight for Tenang, says he aims to elevate marketability and create more jobs for the youth by tapping into newer and emerging industries. – EMMANUEL SANTA MARIA CHIN/The Vibes pic, March 4, 2022
Lim, who is contesting in the four-cornered fight for Tenang, says he aims to elevate marketability and create more jobs for the youth by tapping into newer and emerging industries. – EMMANUEL SANTA MARIA CHIN/The Vibes pic, March 4, 2022

Come home, change things

Lim also urged all Johoreans to make the trip home and honour their democratic responsibility to elect their representatives.

He also pleaded with voters to allow Muda’s candidates to serve the people of Johor, adding how a high turnout is needed to ensure the state does not fall into the hands of Barisan Nasional and Umno again.

“You have to come back and actually vote, and hopefully that will make a change. We have good candidates, and if we do not perform well, you can kick us out.

“The older generation of leaders, many of whom are already irrelevant and archaic, are dragging the country down, and you should give the youth a chance to repair this country.”

Muda is contesting six out of the 56 seats in the upcoming Johor election.

Polling is set for March 12, with more than 2.59 million eligible voters registered in the state. – The Vibes, March 4, 2022

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