SYED Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman wants to make sure his new youth-based political platform – dubbed Muda Malaysia – will represent a collective voice and not just his.

In an interview with The Malaysian Insight, Syed Saddiq said it is important that party members felt a sense of ownership. 

“It cannot just be about my expression. It must be about the collective platform’s exploration,” he said. 

The Muar MP said all matters relating to policymaking must be decided together.

“When we organise programmes together, there is a sense of togetherness in how we move forward,” he said. 

“If it is only a Saddiq’s party, it will fail. It must be our party.”

With activists, professionals, academics, start-up founders, and even preachers on the membership roll, there are bound to be disagreements.

However, Syed Saddiq said he believes in finding a common ground to pursue issues that truly matter. 

“Of course, when I started inviting people to join, some on the left and some on the right were unhappy, but it is what makes us unique because this is really the middle path we are taking. 

“We’re trying to be as inclusive as possible so that everyone has a say on how the platform should move forward,” said the former youth and sports minister.  

He said being inclusive and encouraging togetherness in decision-making will help the platform succeed. 

“The civil society members who have joined are not a part of an already established platform. Now, they are in a position of having to craft the platform together with other people so that, in the end, we can champion common causes,” the former Bersatu youth chief said. 

“We’re building together. It is our platform, not my platform.”

The 27-year-old said the party structure is still being discussed, adding a few committees have been set up but did not name them.

“Everyone will brainstorm and leaders of respective committees will look at the best way to create a disruptive party structure,” he said. 

Syed Saddiq said a disruptive political platform representing young people will change the country’s political landscape. 

The party will be launched soon, he said. 

Syed Saddiq was among a handful of Dr Mahathir Mohamad loyalists who lost his Bersatu membership for supporting the opposition. 

Instead of joining Dr Mahathir’s new party, Pejuang, he is venturing out on his own. 

Recently, Dr Mahathir dismissed Syed Saddiq’s new party, saying it will find it hard to win votes from the older generation. 

“I do not know why he wants to form a party. I don’t think it will be a success. Youth votes are not enough to win,” the former prime minister had said. – September 5, 2020.