WITH less than a year left before the next general election, Bersatu looks set to lose one of its founders and youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman to Oxford Univeristy.

On his Instagram account, Syed Saddiq uploaded a picture of himself holding up an offer letter from the university along with his parents.

“I have taken into consideration the views of all, including my parents, about my future in politics and the scholarship offer from Oxford University to further my studies in Public Policy (master’s),” said the 25-year-old in his post.

Syed Saddiq then sent out invitations to the media for his press conference tomorrow where he will announce his decision to further his studies and to clarify his status in Bersatu.

However, the invitation has also sparked speculation on whether he will be joining another party as the press conference is to be held at Hotel Seri Pacific, just next to Umno headquarters at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).

Some leaders in Armada were also unaware of the press conference when asked by The Malaysian Insight to confirm the event.

The Malaysian Insight was also made to understand that Syed Saddiq was supposed to attend a Pakatan Harapan forum in Taman Melawati but canceled it at the last minute.

The former International Islamic University Malaysia student and top debater in Asia came to the limelight when he emceed the signing ceremony for the Citizens’ Declaration last year.

The former Royal Military College alumnus is also well known in recent months for being one of Bersatu advisor and Pakatan Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s stanchest supporters.

Recently, he was involved in a spat with former Bersatu vice-president Hamidah Osman, whom Syed Saddiq accused of being an Umno agent responsible for an exodus from the party in Perak.

Syed Saddiq did not respond to calls from The Malaysian Insight. – October 1, 2017.