JOHOR BARU – One cannot choose who their father is, but Muda remains an inclusive party with few strings attached, said party chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman over criticism of appointing Datin Dian Lee as one of its central executive committee (CEC) members.
“Dian cannot choose who her father is. But Muda will be uncompromising in our way to move the country forward.
“We are also one of the few parties with a funding cap on every donor,” he said last night at an event at Taman Eco Arcadia here.
He added that Muda has been vocal over issues of taxation, and the diverse views in the party will ensure checks and balances over its proposals.
Muda has been fiercely criticised for accepting Lee into the fold, seeing that she is the daughter of Country Heights founder and tycoon Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew.
Aside from Lee, the nascent party was also slammed for accepting those from other political parties as members.
One such person is CEC member Nurainie Haziqah Shafii, a former PKR Srikandi chief and Bersatu Srikandi exco member.
“Some 92% of Muda are made up of members who are new to politics. The difference is that Muda does not accept elected representatives who jump parties,” said Syed Saddiq.
“Our leadership also has members who are fresh to politics, such as Dr Mathen Nair, Dr Thanussha Xavier, and Amira Aisya.
“At the same time, we have people like our vice-president Zaidel Baharuddin who was a Barisan Nasional youth secretary.
“Meanwhile, our Selangor chief was a top leader in Bersatu and our head of climate change Afiqah Zulkifli was PAS’ number two student leader.
“They are not elected reps but people with proven track records of service, and these are people we want to welcome in Muda.”
Another name with alleged ties to Muda is former prime minister and Pejuang founder Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Syed Saddiq, who is Muar MP and former Bersatu youth chief, said he had been vocal against defections from the start of the Sheraton Move in 2020 that saw the collapse of tha Pakatan Harapan federal government.
“I called PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim the very night it happened.
“In fact, when the Perikatan Nasional government fell, I supported his (Anwar’s) candidacy as prime minister and lobbied hard to talk to Dr Mahathir and bring together the (opposition) blocs.”
He added that he has addressed the squabbles between PKR and Muda over seat allocations in Johor, reminding his party machinery to stop bickering and focus on serving the voters.
Syed Saddiq was speaking last night during a Muda Mendengar (Muda Listens) programme with residents at Taman Eco Arcadia here.
Also in attendance were Muda secretary-general Amira, CEC chairman Lim Wei Jiet, DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong and Kota Iskandar assemblyman Dzulkefly Ahmad. – The Vibes, February 13, 2022
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