SOME senior citizens are looking forward to the new youth-based party to be formed by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, even if young adults in both urban and rural areas seem ambivalent about it.

At a roadshow in Penang last week to create awareness about the party, currently dubbed “Muda”, several older Malaysians told The Malaysian Insight it is timely for a new party of younger people to replace the “old political narrative” that has dominated the country for decades.

Former student activist K.M. Lee, 64, said he attended the roadshow to provide support and to hear about the new party’s ideas.

“Malaysia needs new political leadership from the young after being dictated for a long time by the same elite groups.

“Our country has been with the same leaders for too long, such as Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang.

“After GE14, I realised it was time for them to step down. Let a youth party lead this country,” Lee told The Malaysian Insight.

Lee was present with three of his friends, who were also student activists when they were studying in England in the 1970s.

He felt confident that as long as the new party holds fast to key principles, it will bring “something fresh” to Malaysian politics.

“At the roadshow, they said they wanted to form a multiracial party and reject old political practices. If they hold on to these principles, then they can succeed.

“Their initiative to meet with the local community is also positive. We can understand what their efforts are about.”

Lee’s friend Charles Chia, 60, said he does not think a youth-based party will marginalise the elderly.

“What matters is that their ideas are for all races and ages.

“Even though they are young, I believe our country needs young politicians who really want to work, not those who only talk about power, race and religion,” said Chia.

Apart from Penang, Muda also held roadshows in Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan and Sabah.

In the Penang session, Institute for Leadership and Development Studies research manager Tarmizi Anuwar and former student activist Adam Adli held the briefings.

Tarmizi said Muda will be an “inclusive, multiracial party” that will help all races.

He named unemployment, environmental care and poverty eradication as some of the issues Muda will focus on, saying that these topics concern everyone and not just the young.

Syed Saddiq, who holds the record as Malaysia’s youngest minister when Pakatan Harapan was in power, said previously that Muda will “break old political practices”.

The 27-year-old former Bersatu youth chief did not join former Bersatu MPs who formed a new party, Pejuang, together with Dr Mahathir.

The Muar lawmaker and former youth and sports minister is among six MPs, including Dr Mahathir, sacked from Bersatu for rejecting the party president and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s government.

A participant at Muda’s Penang roadshow, Dines Kumar, 27, said young people are “fed up” with senior politicians who just want to hold on to power and who are neglecting the people.

“I saw young people giving up on Malaysian politics when the Sheraton move took place,” he said, referring to the defections and plotting that ousted PH in late February.

“This is proof that our politicians are still practising old politics, and jumping parties despite making promises,” said Dinesh, who is active with Penang civil society group Aliran.

He also felt the existing youth wings in established political parties are less effective because they lack independence from the main party.

“It is time for the young people to become leaders. The existing youth wings do not seem to be effective because the ones making decisions are the main party leaders.”

Muda is expected to submit its registration to the Registrar of Society later today.

Syed Saddiq, in an interview with The Malaysian Insight earlier this month, said his new party will not be bankrolled by patrons with deep pockets and will look for other ways to source funding, with a cap on donations to ensure its independence.

He also said the party’s structure is being discussed, with a few committees set up in a way that all members will have a say. – September 17, 2020.