SHAH ALAM, March 27 — Youth activist Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman said today that he used to be one of the prime minister’s biggest fans until the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy hit the country.

In his speech at the Kongres Rakyat 2016 organised by the Save Malaysia movement, the award-winning debater read out an open letter to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in which he described himself as the prime minister’s biggest supporter a year ago.

“If you knew me a year ago, I supported you all the way,” Syed Saddiq told the audience at Shah Alam Convention Centre here.

“I thought you were a genuine reformist. The amendment of AUKU (Universities and University Colleges Act), [Peaceful] Assembly Act, the repeal of ISA (Internal Security Act) — those are things which I genuinely supported.

“But when the 1MDB titanic hit Malaysia and your career, all those reforms were backtracked. The youth of today and Malaysians will not stand by this,” he added.

Amendments to Section 15 of the AUKU were tabled in Parliament in 2012 to allow students to join political parties.

Syed Saddiq called on “moderate and progressive” Umno members to join the Save Malaysia movement.

“If you consider yourself a moderate or progressive in Umno, this is the time for you to speak up.

“I am not a politician. I am not rich. But I am a young one that has high hopes on the country’s leadership to bring forward the country,” said Syed Saddiq, who is one of the signatories of the “Citizens’ Declaration” launched by the Save Malaysia movement that calls for Najib’s removal.