BERSATU youth leadersfear that the wing would face major fallout as a result of the fight for the top post in the coming party elections.

Incumbent Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s main challenger, Mohd Muzammil Ismail, is a tough opponent and they fear the elections would severely test the wing.

They are confident that Syed Saddiq will be able to fend off challenges from his opponents but are afraid on how quickly the wing can reconsolidate after the polls.

Perak Bersatu youth information chief Herman Hassan said the smear campaign is an indicator of how bad the situation will be.

“I believe Syed Saddiq will win but what I fear is that the elections could cause split Armada (youth wing),” he told The Malaysia Insight.

Herman’s comments come amid a vicious smear campaign waged by supporters of the two candidates on social media.

Among the allegations, many deemed defamatory, are on the integrity and moral standing of the candidates.

Last Saturday, Muzammil, who is a youth exco member and founder of the overseas Bersatu supporters’ club, announced his candidacy for the top post in the wing.

Among the reasons he cited for challenging Syed Saddiq was the wing’s failure to win the support of young voters as evident in Pakatan Harapan’s defeat in last five by-elections.

Herman, however, defends Syed Saddiq, saying that the losses should not be used as a yardstick to measure the leadership qualities of the youth and sports minister.

“The defeats were due more to national issues raised by the opposition and which poisoned the mind of young people.

“In Kimanis, for example, Pakatan lost because of the PSS (Sabah temporary pass).”

PSS is a travel document introduced by the Home Ministry to replace three existing documents to keep track of the hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants in the state.

Four days after the by-election, Sabah withdrew its implementation, claiming that the government was “listening to the voice and views of the people”.

The Kimanis loss was the fifth PH defeat since it came to power in May 2018. Other losses are the Cameron Highlands, Semenyih, Rantau and Tanjung Piai by-elections.

In all the by-elections, PH reportedly failed to win over young voters.

Meanwhile, another grassroots leader Megat Muhammad Faris Megat Ismail said the wing needs a breath of fresh air as it faces a problem of self-confidence.

The Port Dickson Bersatu youth chief said the current leadership not only failed to draw the support of young people, it has not responded to issues involving the Malay-Muslim interests.

The current youth leaders could not be considered as the voice of the youth, he added.

Faris also criticised Syed Saddiq’s leadership style and qualities and questioned if he had what it takes to be a good leader.

He cited Syed Saddiq’s strained relationship with the Johor palace and asked how he would defend the royal institution.

“It is not that we do not agree with all the things, but there are many things that need to be changed.

“This is the dilemma. So, we need a new leadership.”

Faris said Syed Saddiq is too dependent on state leaders to sort out things if there are problems there.

“If there is a troubled branch, he should come down to sort out the branch’s problems personally. That’s what Syed Saddiq should also be doing.

“Don’t just rely on the state youth chief to work things out. Don’t just talk about national policies only. How about things at the grassroots?” he asked.

Lumut Bersatu division youth chief Akmal Maradzi admitted Syed Saddiq has his weakness but he is ready to give him the opportunity to lead the wing for another term.

He said Syed Saddiq’s current tenure is too short to bring the best out of him.

“We need to give him the support and space to lead. It is still too early for us to evaluate his leadership.

“He’s not a total rubbish. He has made the voice of young people heard by lowering the voting age to 18, got their practical allowances approved and lots more.

“He has tried hard to bring to another level the voice of the youth,” he said.

Syed Saddiq has been helming Armada since Bersatu’s existence in September 2016.

To date, four states – Perak, Kelantan, Kedah, and Penang – have thrown their support behind Syed Saddiq.

The nomination for all positions in the national body is on March 16 with voting on June 20. – February 17, 2020.