THE Malaysia United Democratic Alliance (Muda) will contest in the upcoming Malacca elections, party president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said today.

The youth-based party is still waiting for the Registrar of Societies to approve its registration but has expressed its willingness to contest under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) banner in the state polls.

Syed Saddiq, who is also Muar MP, said the party is currently negotiating with PH on seat allocations and also other terms.

“Muda has made a firm decision to contest in the Malacca state election.

“We would like to put our name as a party which intends to contest together in the spirit of the opposition bloc to bring about a change.

“(On seats allocation) the matter will be discussed together with the opposition bloc and will be announced later,” the former youth and sports minister said at a press conference in Malacca today.

When asked if they would use the PH logo, Syed Saddiq said the matter is still in discussion.

“I was informed that PH is also discussing what would be the best logo to use in the state polls,” he said. 

Muda’s application to be registered as a political party was rejected by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) for the second time in August this year.

In September, Syed Saddiq and 12 others obtained leave to initiate legal proceedings against the home minister and the ROS for rejecting their appeal to register the party.

Syed Saddiq said Muda has outlined several important criteria in joining the opposition for the Malacca elections, which include focus on multiracial politics, moderate politics, policy-based politics and service politics.

“We reject political ‘frogs, politicians who lack integrity, and those who are only interested in rank and position,” he said.

Syed Saddiq said Malaysians should bring about change to the political landscape in the country, and that it must start in the Malacca elections.

“We must understand that Muda is not a party with money, position and rank in the government; a party that doesn’t have control over the mass media, control over money politics in Malaysia.

“But what we do not have in terms of money, positions, power, we make up for with our level of idealism and ability to change Malaysia once and for all, and that change must start in Malacca,” he added.

On its choice of candidate, Syed Saddiq said the party is looking to field a young, dynamic, experienced leader, someone with a proven track record of serving the people.

The Malacca assembly was dissolved last month after four assemblymen withdrew their support for Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali.

The four are former chief minister Idris Haron (Sg Udang-BN), Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor-BN), Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas-Bersatu) and Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu-Ind).

Following this, the decision was made to dissolve the assembly and hold an election.

The Election Commission has set November 8 for nomination day, while polls will be held on November 20.

Syed Saddiq said the Malacca election is taking place because of a power struggle among the political elites and claims the public now has to face the consequences amid an epidemic.

“The Malacca elections are happening because of a power struggle among the political elite where Umno stabbed their own party and Umno also wanted to dissolve the assembly in the middle of a pandemic.

“Finally, those who have been caught with the elections during the pandemic are the people of Malacca. It is the people who have to pay for the purpose of the elections. This is clearly wrong,” he said.– October 27, 2021.