PUTRAJAYA: From courtroom shadows to political daylight, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman walks free – for now.
After five years of legal battles, emotional turmoil and public scrutiny, he was acquitted of all graft charges, marking a dramatic turn in his high-profile political saga.
Emerging tearful from the Court of Appeal flanked by family, the 31-year-old former minister offered prayers of gratitude – his name was cleared, his resolve unshaken and his eyes now set firmly on the future.
However, the legal chapter may not be fully closed. A source from the Attorney-General’s Chambers said a decision would be made very soon on whether to file a notice of appeal against the appellate court’s ruling.
“We will study the judgment thoroughly. A decision (on the appeal) will be made soonest,” said the source.
After the judgment yesterday, Syed Saddiq addressed reporters who had gathered at the Palace of Justice.
“I don’t regret anything and I am not afraid to go through it all again. In the end, it is worth it. I care more about my integrity than my own life.
“Throughout this, I was under a lot of pressure, even my mum’s cancer relapsed. Many offers were coming in from everywhere, but I rejected them.
“I wanted to clear my name through the courts and the victory is a reminder of why I chose the path for the country I love dearly,” he added.
Asked about his future plans, Syed Saddiq said he would take some time to spend with his family. On whether he would rejoin Muda’s leadership, he said it was up to the party to decide.
Meanwhile, his lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik said they were grateful to the learned judges for the verdict and appreciated the court’s consideration of their arguments.
He also thanked Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, who were part of the legal team representing Syed Saddiq at the High Court.
Separately Muda acting president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz said the party was proud and grateful for the decision made by the Court of Appeal.
“From 2020, I have been with Syed Saddiq as a friend and political ally. Based on our mutual trust, I had acted as surety because I believed in his innocence.
“This verdict cleared his name as well as his honesty and being on the right path in terms of politics.
“As such, we at Muda will be holding a central executive committee meeting to discuss our future and Syed Saddiq’s position in the party,” she said.
Syed Saddiq stepped down as Muda president in 2023 following his initial conviction.
The Court of Appeal allowed his appeal and acquitted him of the RM1.2mil graft case.
A three-judge panel chaired by Justice Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim unanimously allowed his appeal after finding that the trial judge in the high court had erred warranting appellate intervention. The other judges on the panel were Justices Azman Abdullah and Noorin Badaruddin.
