KUALA LUMPUR – After being ordered to enter his defence in the four charges laid against him, Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman says he will leave it up to the people of Muar to decide his fate in the coming general election.
The incumbent Muar MP, while not explicitly confirming his candidacy in the Johor federal constituency, said he will first raise the issue to his party following the latest development.
Speaking to the press after the high court’s decision this morning, Syed Saddiq said the public should be able to decide for themselves on whether today’s outcome will affect his political campaigning.
“What I’ll do immediately after this is to call for a meeting to discuss this thoroughly,” he said, referring to action within his party.
Asked to confirm if he will contest in the coming election and defend his seat, with his trial now set to drag on until next year, Syed Saddiq said: “It really depends on the good people of Muar.”
“But above and beyond that, I’d like to bring this up to my party, because I’m a party man and principles come first in politics,” said the former youth and sports minister.
Earlier today, high court judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid ordered Syed Saddiq to enter defence in his criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of funds, and money laundering trial.
The decision was made after he found that the prosecution has successfully proved a prima facie case against the incumbent Muar MP.
Gobind Singh Deo, who represented Syed Saddiq, said his client will give testimony under oath in the coming defence trial, and will also be one of 15 witnesses to be called in for examination.
Azhar agreed to move the defence trial to next year, taking into account the coming election, and set February 22 to 24, March 13 and 14, and April 10 to 14 as trial dates.
In his press conference, Syed Saddiq said that as he is required to stand trial now, he looks forward to clearing his name in court.
“I entered politics to clean politics. Whatever threat or bribe will never dampen my spirit and principle to fight for and champion the rakyat,” he said.
“In this regard, it is my turn to be given the opportunity to give my witness statement under oath in court and to call in my defence witnesses, to tell my side of the story so that justice can prevail and that justice is fair.”
In his first charge under Section 406 of the Penal Code, Syed Saddiq was accused of abetting former Bersatu Youth assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim with criminal breach of trust involving RM1 million in funds belonging to the party's Youth wing on March 6, 2020.
The Muda co-founder was also charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code for allegedly misappropriating RM120,000 belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise for himself between April 8 and 21, 2018.
He also faces two counts of engaging in money laundering activities involving two transactions of RM50,000 each, believed to be proceeds from unlawful activities on June 16 and 19, 2018, and was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. – The Vibes, October 28, 2022
