BARISAN Nasional politicians may dismiss him as a greenhorn and scoff at‎ his chances of winning in Muar, but many voters here are willing to see beyond his young age.

And what they see in Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is an articulate young man who can speak for their children’s future.

These older voters believe that the Bersatu Youth chief and Pakatan Harapan candidate for the Muar parliamentary seat can understand the challenges facing young Malaysians in Johor, many of whom have to work in Singapore.

Syed Saadiq is 25 and a first-time candidate.

Roslan, 58, from a Malay village, Parit Nawi, was one of the 150 people who attended Syed Saddiq’s ceramah in the BN stronghold last night.

“We were BN supporters but no longer. Most of our children work in Johor Baru, Singapore. They influence the parents.

“Being young is not a problem. My children are young, he (Syed Saddiq) would know better whether they are protected by government policies,” Roslan told Malaysia Decides.

Attending Syed Saddiq’s ceramah the second time, Roslan identified former Umno supporters and current PKR supporters among the crowd.

“Those from Muar town will drive their cars. Locals in Parit Nawi will use motorcycles. Look, there are about two dozens motorcycles outside,” he said.

The opposition has never won the seat. Incumbent Razali Ibrahim, a caretaker deputy minister and Umno Supreme Council member, is seeking a fourth term in Muar.

‎Razali’s majority in the Malay-majority seat has declined consistently from 13,415 votes in 2004, to 4,661 in 2008 and 1,646 in 2013.

‎Nasir, 75, who brought his wife with him to the ceramah, has nine children – five of whom are working in Singapore and two in Shah Alam.

“They travel back and forth from Singapore to Johor Baru. I asked them to stay in Singapore and give us less pocket money but they wouldn’t listen,” he said.

“I’m old but the young still have a long way to go. There is no problem with a young candidate. Who didn’t start out being young?”

A couple of days ago, caretaker defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein ‎ridiculed Syed Saadiq, calling him a greenhorn kitten.

He noted that the PH candidate was targeting young voters because he could not make any headway with older voters who were impressed with BN’s track record in the constituency. – May 2, 2018.