MUDA president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahmad said his youth-based party would not have decided to contest in the state polls if Pakatan Harapan (PH) had kept its reform promises and started implementing them.

“The main reason why we (Muda) departed (from PH) is because we believe the promised reforms are now being abandoned,” he said. 

“It is so disingenuous, a big lie and a slap in the face of multiracial Malaysia when for the past 20 years, you (PH) promised this and that, and now completely abandoned it,” the Muar lawmaker told The Malaysian Insight in an exclusive interview. 

He said PH was taking multiracial, moderate voters lightly, treating them as “fixed deposits”.

“Even basic things like asset declarations by ministers have not been done,” he said.

“Then, there is a U-turn on separating the finance minister’s position from the prime minister’s portfolio. 

“Also, where is the Political Funding Act? Two-term limit? Parliament Service Act? Giving parliament more power? Equal allocations for all parliamentary members regardless of government or opposition?

“Until today, if you’re in the opposition, you get zero. These were the same people who were protesting before that their voters were punished because of a political alliance. Now they are doing exactly the same thing.

“All the basic things, which are not tough to do when there is bi-partisan support, are not being done.

“They have abandoned multiracial Malaysia. They have abandoned the reform agenda, or it is moving at a snail’s pace and yet they are taking multiracial, moderate voters lightly,” Syed Saddiq added. 

Early this month, Syed Saddiq announced that his party would contest in the August 12 state elections under its own banner.

He said Muda decided to give people an alternative and the option to vote against unsatisfactory coalitions that backtracked on their reform pledges. 

“Enough is enough. Muda comes in to send the decisive wake-up call so that those who walk the corridors of power will no longer take the voters lightly.

“We need to teach them a lesson, we need to send this clear wake-up call so that after the elections, they will move back on the reform agenda and defend multiracial Malaysia,” the former youth and sports minister said. 

The Election Commission last week announced that the polls for Selangor, Penang, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu would be held simultaneously on August 12. 

Nomination day is July 29 while early voting will be held on August 8. 

A total of 245 seats will be contested – 32 in Terengganu, 36 each in Kedah and Negri Sembilan, Penang (40), Kelantan (45), and Selangor (56). – July 14, 2023.