Syed Saddiq, start acting like a minister

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 11 Sep 2019 11:25PM · 7 Comments

IT was reported earlier that the Youth and Sports Ministry was “forced” to move the finale of the FitMalaysia programme to Malacca instead of Johor.

When prodded by reporters over the issue, some sources in the article implied that it was due to interference of the Johor palace.

If that was truly the reason, why not make the real reason public instead of relying on keeping a tight lid on things?

More worryingly, if even these internal sources are unsure about the real reason behind the move, what does that say about the internal communications within the ministry?

In the overall scheme of things, this is a small issue, but it is also one in a long line of U-turns and dodgy dealings that continue to hammer at the eroded credibility of Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and the Pakatan Harapan government in the eyes of the rakyat.

Indeed, it seems that the Youth and Sports Ministry on a whole is going through a dark period – with rumors abound of layoffs and political appointments in key ministerial positions (namely from a certain single party).

For someone who often touted that the youth of the nation should be empowered, and often came down hard on corruption cases of the previous regime, Syed Saddiq’s lack of commitment to communicate his ministry’s plans is utterly disappointing. If he really wants to empower the youth, he should start by outlining what he is planning and coordinating with existing stakeholders to ensure good outcomes.

Of course, it is unfair to place all of this on his shoulders – he is but one minister out of 24.

But if his colleagues in the cabinet (especially the Entrepreneur Development Ministry and Economic Affairs Ministry) are sleeping on the job, it reflects a culture of gross dysfunction within Putrajaya.

Consider his suggestions to address Malaysia’s youth unemployment rate.

First, he opposed raising the retirement age from 60 to 65 on the grounds that older workers are taking potential jobs from younger unemployed people.

This is a flawed proposition – older persons do not necessarily occupy or compete for the same jobs as the youth.

In fact, the government needs to review its social protection policies to ensure adequacy and coverage as the idea of a comfortable retirement is becoming increasingly distant.

Second, his enthusiasm in introducing Go-Jek as a solution.

This does not address the root cause of graduate unemployment, which is the mismatch and surplus of graduates to what the industry really needs.

What is being taught in universities needs urgent review. In addition, there are just too many university places available for the needs of the local workforce.

His personal stance on controversial issues also leaves much to be desired.

Last month, many Malaysians rallied behind Syed Saddiq when he unequivocally denounced controversial preacher Zakir Naik over his disparaging statements about non-Muslim guests in the country. In these times of divisiveness, it was good to see at least one Malay minister taking the charge in defending the social contract in Malaysia.

Unfortunately, days before Merdeka, Syed Saddiq posted on his social media accounts that he had welcomed Zakir for dinner, telling Malaysians that it is time to forgive him for his mistakes and move on.

Given the tone and genial pictures posted, Syed Saddiq probably saw that this was the right message given the timing, but for Malaysians to see their “progressive” youth minister cozying up with the controversial preacher is tone-deaf, considering the context.

Instead, this U-turn continued to incense Malaysians, and rightfully so. The “apology” issued by Zakir neither apologised or acknowledged his hurtful statements towards Chinese and Indian Malaysians in his sermon.

Separately, there were short barbs on social media regarding civil societies that had expressed concerns on the khat issue, saying that they were “bodoh sombong”.

Ironically, this dismissive attitude is seen even when he is speaking to members of the youth – take for example the condescension seen when he replied to a Form 1 student’s online petition to allow schoolboys to keep long hair, asking the student to focus on his studies instead.

Instead of addressing or allaying concerns of his countrymen, it seems that Syed Saddiq has taken the easy way out to demonise his perceived “opponents” instead of finding the structural and cultural reasons behind them.

If anything, this simply resembles the tactics employed by the previous administration, ones that Malaysians had hoped would no longer be used to divide them.

Syed Saddiq, you are responsible for all Malaysians, young and old. Start acting like an actual minister. – September 11, 2019.

* Azman Md Arif reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.

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Comments

  • Call all PH supporters registered in ....... Langkawi and Muar.

    Vote AGAINST your PH candidates in GE15. They are disruptors ..... NOT ..... builders or reformers!

    Posted 6 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • Syed loves to read. I hope he reads books that will groom him to be a steadfast thinker, and not one on flip-flops to gain public favor or boss favor. Hope he is a bright star for our future and will not disappoint us again.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Following M style, that is sometime purposely don't follow the public expectation, just to tell off people he has a right to decide, may not their public choice. Its called managing public expectation by lowering people expectation so that he can manage us better. LGE also good on this but he delivers eventually what he promised. Syed capability is yet to be proven as we don't even know he can or he will do what he said. If he does, we don't know he can deliver the end results.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Mahathir should take note. Its another of his Bersatu minister again..

    Posted 6 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • SS is nothing but a wet behind the ears little boy who has been promoted way beyond his capabilities. Winning some debates says he is a good debater. Doesn't mean that he has any critical, analytical and logical thinking skills. His statements and actions so far seem to indicate that he has none.

    Posted 6 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • Wisdom comes with age. Not education. Not connection. Not IQ. Through the years you will go through experiences while sharpening your wisdom. And there is no short cut in obtaining the juice of experience which is wisdom.

    Posted 6 years ago by It's me GR · Reply

  • He is looked upon as the bright Malay chap who could be a good leaders. Well the past months after the GE14 victory has significantly shows that he is empty up in the cranium. It has been proven that mostly good orators and even debaters are actually not good leaders as they do not have natural abilities and capabilities to rationalize and react. All facts and argument pointers are a stated fact for them to memorise and present. Our young minister mind lacks the maturity of thoughts and yet to be ripen to have reasoning and deduction to accost a situation. His fickle mindedness in apprehing any concerns is a testament of wayward youthful inmaturity. To speedily prop him up is showing the Malay race are dearth or bankrupt of future leaders. Umno youth are no better at all too as the idiotic rubbish that is spewing had lay waste to any hopes of the bright beckoning of a leader in sight. The cause of such erosion are basically due to the influence of masses that is locally educated which impacted the thoughts process of any returning oversea or private educated Ministers son or daughters. ( Talking about making the rest being dumb looks like the reverse is in process ) This exposed educated youth when they become leader, to retain their popularity they threw caution to the wind and follows the herds mentality of extreme intolerance of religion bigotry , a false cultural practises of feudalism to suit their needs. That is why we are seeing what is happening now. The Malay race will never come head above the flooding water unless they unyoke themselves of the burden mentioned. All the scolding and belittling by the PM and politicians are just charade. On the other hand the party of the other political divide are just adding fuel to kill themselves thru the old non effective and non value cries of Bangsa dan Agama when the countries are already in dire stage. The play of such old strategies have now morphed into a monster that is beyond even Umno or Bersatu or even PAS to do the killing The insincerity efforts to make the Malay race intelligent is the time bomb that is ticking to cause the self destructions of the Malay race. All the Malay parties that is now in existence is a bane to the young Malay race for their future developement.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply