Report: Syed Saddiq to form own youth-centric political party

PETALING JAYA: Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has confirmed that he will be forming his own multiracial and youth-centric political party, according to a media report.

“If in Thailand they can set up Future Forward, in France they can set up En Marche under Macron, I think it is timely in Malaysia to start up a movement made of young people.

“Of young technocrats, professionals, young politicians from different backgrounds to come together to ensure that the youth’s voice will dominate in Parliament and outside of Parliament, that in the end, the youth can never be taken lightly any more.

“It is timely today so that politics will never be chained by the same people, being controlled and monopolised by the same old people, ” he was quoted as saying by Channel News Asia while campaigning for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Pejuang part in the Slim by-election.

Last week, Syed Saddiq indicated he would not be joining Dr Mahathir’s party, and would rather start a youth movement.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir announced on his blog Chedet in mid-August that his new Malay-based party would be called Pejuang, which means warrior.

He claimed that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia had been hijacked to “save kleptocrats”.

The setting up of the new party was due to the High Court’s decision to strike out a suit by him and several others over the nullification of their Bersatu memberships on Aug 7.

The announcement triggered a wave of resignations from Bersatu leaders and members in several divisions.

Last week, the founding members of Pejuang submitted their application to the Registrar of Societies (RoS) for Pejuang to be officially registered.