MUAR incumbent MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman will disclose whether he will defend his parliamentary seat or relinquish it in a press conference next week.

The former youth and sports minister said he will make the announcement on Wednesday after the High Court on Friday ordered him to enter his defence on four criminal charges.

“I will make an announcement on Wednesday. I fully respect the decision by the High Court and this is a chance for me to clear my name as I was ordered to enter defence.

“Whether I will contest or not, I will make the decision on Wednesday,” said Syed Saddiq.

Yesterday, Muda’s supreme council said it will meet soon to decide whether president Syed Saddiq should stand in the general election.

Syed Saddiq told reporters outside the court the matter will have to be brought to the party to decide, but he did not say when the meeting would be as nomination day for the polls is less than a week away.

He also said it “depends on the people of Muar” whether he should defend the seat.

Syed Saddiq was charged with abetting in criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of assets and money laundering.

He was accused of conspiring with then Bersatu Youth wing assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali, who was entrusted with funds of RM1 million, to commit criminal breach of trust by misusing the funds at CIMB Bank, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Sentral 2, on March 6, 2020.

As the then-Bersatu Youth chief, Syed Saddiq was also entrusted with control of the funds.

Judicial Commissioner Azhar Abdul Hamid in his ruling said the prosecution succeeded in proving the 29-year-old had a case to answer.

Azhar fixed 10 days for the trial from February 22 to April 14 next year.

Lead counsel Gobind Singh Deo said Syed Saddiq would testify from the witness box and the defence would present 14 witnesses. – October 29, 2022.