KUALA LUMPUR – The charges against Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, the latest in a slew against opposition and Umno MPs, is proof of intimidation by those in power against lawmakers not aligned with the government, said political observers.
They said it also further demonstrates the desperation by the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin-led Perikatan Nasional (PN) government to remain in power, with the prime minister holding an extremely thin majority in Parliament.
Universiti Sains Malaysia academician Azmil Mohd Tayeb said the action taken against Syed Saddiq appears to be political in nature, especially with its peculiar timing so close to the Parliament sitting, which begins next Monday.
He sees the charges as an intimidation tactic to try and persuade the Muar MP to cross over, with PN currently requiring as much support from MPs as possible, due to its fragile hold on Putrajaya.
“The charges could have been brought up at any time, but why now? We certainly need to question the timing of the charges in this case,” he said.
“It (the charges) does show the level of desperation of the government in light of its uncertain hold (on federal power).
“Bringing up charges and possibly dropping them later (pending support) is one of its strategies to stay in power. Whether it works to pull Syed Saddiq to the PN side remains to be seen.”
Even if Syed Saddiq remains steadfast in not supporting Muhyiddin, Azmil said, PN likely feels it has a good chance of filling the Muar seat should the incumbent be found guilty of his charges and be stripped of his position.
Yesterday at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, the Muda co-founder was charged with criminal breach of trust for allegedly misappropriating RM1 million belonging to his former party Bersatu and for misusing RM120,000 in donations for the 2018 election. He pleaded not guilty for both charges.
Previously in March, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim accused the government of using the authorities to intimidate opposition lawmakers into discarding their loyalty and switch camp.
This follows the resignation of a trio of PKR MPs earlier this year, with the highest-profile name being Kuala Langat MP Datuk Dr Xavier Jayakumar.
Speculation has been rife that the government has used similar intimidation tactics against a number of Umno MPs, including those in the top echelons of the party, to tempt them to switch allegiance.
The lack of action against Umno’s Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman two months after he was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission – after he publicly announced his support for Muhyiddin – has further backed this claim.
Move politically motivated, government threatened by Syed Saddiq
Universiti Malaya’s Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi similarly believes the action taken against Syed Saddiq was politically motivated, after the latter repeatedly refused to offer his support for the sitting prime minister.
This, he said, is similar to other prosecutions against MPs critical of Muhyiddin and his administration, adding that such a culture has existed even under the watch of previous governments.
“During the Pakatan Harapan era, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had supposedly told Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to deregister the party. It was after Zahid refused that the charges were made against him. It is the same with Syed Saddiq.
“Now especially with the parliamentary sitting nearing, it is unsurprising that action is being taken, as the government is concerned with its position,” he told The Vibes.
Awang Azman said the reason PN has been gunning for Syed Saddiq in particular, and not other MPs on the opposition bench, is due to the support the Muar MP has garnered, and sees him now as a political threat.
He added that the government will especially be bothered by the influence Syed Saddiq and Muda has on young voters, particularly through social media.
‘Very stupid’ of the government to go after Syed Saddiq
University of Tasmania Asia Institute’s Prof James Chin said the decision to charge Syed Saddiq is especially bemusing, as this would only give him more publicity and increase his popularity, especially at a time when Muda is being denied official registration.
While Chin believes the charges are not politically motivated – he feels the move is intended to show that PN is being even-handed – going after the Muar MP now is “very stupid”.
“If you need, go after senior politicians or even celebrities flouting lockdown rules. Syed Saddiq is trying to register Muda and build a political party, so the current period is quite sensitive.
“The move only provides him with opportunities to promote Muda further. For me, the best way to suppress opposition is by denying them coverage.
“But the government doesn’t understand this. This will only create negative backlash against PN. You are shining a light on a problem that wasn’t initially there,” he said. – The Vibes, July 23, 2021
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