Syed Saddiq emulates Japanese World Cup fans after FA Cup final

PETALING JAYA: Even Cabinet Ministers can learn a thing or two from ordinary folks. In this case, from Japanese football fans.

The Star's Malay-language portal mStar reported that Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was seen cleaning up the Bukit Jalil Stadium after watching the FA Cup final between Selangor and Pahang on Saturday (July 7) night.

Steady Menteri Belia dan Sukan @SyedSaddiq kutip sampah lepas Final Shopee Piala FA Malaysia 2018. Tahniah YB! pic.twitter.com/80wUeLjtTo — . (@shafizisa) July 7, 2018

Clad in a black and yellow Harimau Malaya jersey, he was seen cleaning up garbage strewn in the stands after the game ended.

In a 56-second video, Syed Saddiq walks about the empty stands with a black garbage bag, picking up discarded water bottles, paper cups and other litter.

The young minister's actions emulated Japanese football fans who stayed behind to clean up stadiums in Russia after World Cup matches their team were in – even after the match they lost to Belgium on July 3.

Netizens praised Syed Saddiq's actions, with some also congratulating him for being the youngest minister in the nation's history.

"Syed Saddiq is not just YB, but also an educator, picking up rubbish to encourage others to also clean up and not just sit in the office," said Twitter user Najdiunic.

"Syed Saddiq is not merely acting in front of the camera but he is teaching by example," Arepeacekeem tweeted.

The Muar MP was at the Bukit Jalil Stadium to watch the FA Cup final between Selangor and Pahang.

Pahang won the FA Cup title for the third time after beating five-time champions Selangor 2-0.