MUDA aims to be the conscience of the Anwar Ibrahim-led unity government, the youth-based party co-founder Luqman Long said. 

Luqman, who is also the party information chief, said members will scrutinise each and every policy of the unity government to ensure they benefit the people.

“We want to be critical over each and every policy drafted by this government we want to be critical in the law-making process; and we want to be critical in all of the policies that aim to give more benefit for the people.

“Even if we are not in the cabinet or are deputies, even if no one in Muda is appointed as senators, that should not be an excuse for us not to be critical of the unity government,” he added. 

Luqman said that was one of the points discussed in his party’s post-mortem for the general election.

He said Muda has kept its promise to back Anwar Ibrahim for the country’s top post. 

Muda, which made its federal election debut in GE15, stood in six seats as a Pakatan Harapan (PH) partner. It only managed to win Muar via party president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who was the incumbent.

In Tanjung Piai, Muda’s co-founder Lim Wei Jiet faced former deputy plantation industries and commodities minister and MCA top man Wee Jeck Seng and Najwah Halimah (PN).

In Masjid Tanah, Muda Perak’s chief Mutalib Uthman ran against former deputy law minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Abdul Hakim Abdul Wahid (BN), and Handrawirawan Abu Bakar (Pejuang).  

In Tanjung Karang, Siti Rohayu Bahri took on Habibah Mohd Yusof (BN), Azlan Sani Zawawi (Pejuang), Mohd Rosni Mastol (Independent), and Zulkafperi Hanafi (PN). 

In Kepala Batas, Danial Abdul Majeed was up against former housing and local government minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Siti Mastura Mohamad (PN).  

In Kota Marudu, Sharizal Denci, Muda’s sole candidate in Sabah, stood against Maximus Ongkili (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah), Mohd Azmi Zulkiflee (Pejuang), Norman Tulang (Independent), Jilid@Zainuddin Kuminding (Warisan), and Wetrom Bahanda (Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat).

Despite losing five of the six seats it stood in, Muda will continue serving the constituencies in preparation for the next general election, said Luqman. 

“(We will) keep pushing our brand in each of the respective areas, regardless of the results.

“We have set up service centres in Tanjung Piai, Tanjung Karang and Kota Marudu… for the next five years, we are going to concentrate our efforts in these areas,” Luqman said. – December 22, 2022.