Armada state chiefs ‘fight’ over age cap

JOHOR BARU: Johor and Perak Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia Armada chiefs are at loggerheads with one another over the youth age cap issue with Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman being their “focus”.

Johor Bersatu Armada chief Norul Haszarul Abu Samah, who criticised Putrajaya’s move to lower the age cap for youths to 30, did not mention names but it was clear that his barbs were aimed at Bersatu Armada chief Syed Saddiq.

He told the minister not to play with fire by interfering in Johor affairs and as the issue was still being debated, in his view, the state government’s handling of the matter was correct.

“This state is sovereign with a prosperous and united rakyat where the rejection of the age cap is not a political sentiment but in accordance with the Johor Sustainable Development Plan 2019-2030 and in line with the Mentri Besar’s statement.

“We, in Johor, have our own way of deci­ding our path. We need not follow the ways of others,” he said in a Facebook posting.

Norul Haszarul added that this was a reminder to all ministries not to make hasty decisions and to always listen to the views and suggestions of all stakeholders, particularly the youths at the grassroots level.

He said so far seven states – Johor, Sarawak, Selangor, Perlis, Pahang, Kelantan and Kedah – were also retaining the youth age limit at 40 and urged Syed Saddiq to focus on his ministry and leave state affairs to those who were well-versed in them.

Opposing views: Hafez (left) said he was impressed with the boldness shown by Norul Haszarul (right) in voicing out openly his different view with Syed Saddiq.

“I urge the minister in question to stop complaining or sulking and ask help from Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin each time he fails in his duties,” said Norul Haszarul.

He said they had more pressing matters to attend to than to entertain the minister’s “personal agenda”.

His Perak counterpart, Mohd Hafez Mubin Mohd Salleh, said the outcome of the youth age cap had been decided and should be respected.

He pointed out that the decision was made through voting in Dewan Rakyat by MPs who were chosen by the rakyat.

“To friends in the party, I would like to remind that our party system is open where we can talk, give views and criticise our leaders in a proper medium.

“Attacking party leaders openly does not benefit the rakyat and the party,” he said, noting that this could lead to infighting.

Hafez questioned whether there were hidden hands trying to jeopardise the consensus made and “insulting” the country’s parliamentary democracy by not accepting legal amendments that been made through the proper channel.

He also said he was impressed with the boldness shown by Norul Haszarul in voicing out openly his different view with Syed Saddiq.

“But his courage must be in line with the courageous decision to resign as the Johor Armada chief as he no longer share the same stance with Syed Saddiq who appointed him to the position,” he said.

On July 8, Johor announced that it would maintain its categorisation of youth as those between 15 and 40 despite the Federal Government’s move to lower the age limit to 30.

Johor, at the time, joined Selangor and Sarawak in maintaining the youth age cap at 40.

But the following day, the Johor government changed its stand again and said it would lower the youth age limit to 30.

Less than 24 hours later, state Youth, Sports, Entrepreneurship Development and Co­­ope­ratives Committee chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali issued another statement, saying Johor would maintain its youth age limit at 40 following “advice from several parties”.