[UPDATED] Muda eyes joining Pakatan, brushes off working with GTA

KUALA LUMPUR – Muda has announced its intention to join the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition while dismissing any cooperation with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s newly established Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) coalition.  

“Informal discussions have been conducted with opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, (DAP secretary-general) Anthony Loke, as well as Amanah president (Mohamad Sabu),” Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said in the press conference today. 

The Muda president also revealed that unofficial discussions on cooperation with PH have been taking place since the Johor state election in March. 

Syed Saddiq also emphasised the importance of unity among the opposition in facing the upcoming general election in order to strengthen public institutions, which now he claimed are under attack by Umno-BN.

“As of now, discussions with PH leaders are not merely based on the issue of the number of seats.

“PH will be prioritised, as Muda wants to build a progressive multi-racial Malaysia that celebrates diversity. 

“Muda intends to work with parties that share the same values and principles that uphold politics of policy and service. 

“That is why the first political bloc we intend to work with is Pakatan Harapan,” he added. 

Commenting further on the cooperation with GTA, Syed Saddiq said Muda does not intend to cooperate with the said coalition. 

“We would recommend (non-cooperation), but I cannot say anything until Muda makes the decision. Our focus is on building a coalition with values and principles,” he added.

At the same press conference, Syed Saddiq announced its deputy president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz as its party’s election director for the upcoming 15th general election.

Syed Saddiq said that the decision was made after a series of discussions as well as official meetings between the leaders of the party’s central executive committee and state executive committee. 

“She is a leader with trust and integrity and is also one of those who speaks and fights for the rights of the people, especially in the education sector. She is also among women that I respect and admire.”

According to Amira, Muda is targeting not more than 15 parliamentary seats in the next general election and will defend the Muar parliamentary seat currently held by Syed Saddiq.

Muda made its debut in the country’s political arena during the Johor state polls in March, winning Puteri Wangsa out of seven seats it contested. – The Vibes, September 6, 2022

Additional reporting by Lancelot Theseira