KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 29 — Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman today declared that he would never work with those involved in corruption to form a government, stressing on integrity over issues such as obtaining majority support to be in power.
Syed Saddiq, the chief of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s youth wing Armada, pointed out that he first became a politician several years ago as Malaysia then was being insulted and humiliated and embarrassed globally due to “wrongdoings and corruption” in the country.
“I believe Malaysians have the right to have a country that is better, a country free from corruption, that is respected and has dignity.
“I wish to stress one thing, I will never ever work together with the corrupt, much less to agree to form a government together with them,” he said in Malay in a brief 1.01-minute video posted this morning on his official Twitter account.
“This is no longer an issue about party or majority, this is an issue of identity and integrity.
“I understand my stand will not be received with ease by some politicians, but politicians come and go, Malaysians are the real masters of this country,” the Muar MP said.
“Biar mati bermaruah, jangan hidup dijajah,” he concluded, which translates to ‘it is better to die with dignity rather than to live being colonised’.
Earlier in his video, Syed Saddiq also acknowledged how the recent political crisis gripping the nation had threatened the country’s stability and economy, as well as how it has caused the public to be angry and anxious until they “question what is the akhlak (character), dignity and principles of politicians in Malaysia”.
Before posting the video, Syed Saddiq had tweeted “#HidupBermaruah”, which means to live with dignity.
Separately, PPBM Armada information chief and PPBM supreme council member Ulya Husamudin posted on Twitter that he had entered politics to fight against corruption.
“I joined the fight to battle against corruption and abuse... once we won, I saw with my own eyes how bad the situation was. From JEPAK to 1bestarinet and several others. This is beyond politics, this is for the country and the people. Don’t allow these crooks to be in power again,” he wrote.
While both Syed Saddiq and Ulya did not directly name those who were “corrupt” or “crooks”, the previous Umno-led administration had been criticised by its political rivals as being allegedly riddled with corruption.
Umno, which currently has many of its leaders facing corruption trials in court, has said all its 39 MPs are backing PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to be the new prime minister.
PPBM’s youth wing Armada this morning also posted a statement to say that it would continue to back the party’s supreme council’s decision in its latest meeting on February 24 to support Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the candidate to be prime minister.
Armada also said the PPBM MPs’ nomination yesterday of Muhyiddin as prime minister candidate cannot reflect the party’s stand unless all members in the party’s supreme council agree to it.
“Once again, Armada Bersatu Malaysia is firm with its stand to not work together with individuals that are implicated in corruption scandals and are facing trial,” Armada had said in its statement.
Following the statements by Armada and Syed Saddiq, Dr Mahathir who is also PPBM chairman this morning announced that he has met with Pakatan Harapan leaders and was confident he now has the numbers to be prime minister candidate.
PH’s presidential council separately said the coalition has decided to fully back Dr Mahathir to be the next prime minister.
As part of efforts to solve a political impasse, Istana Negara yesterday said it will ask leaders of political parties to present their nominations for the prime minister post.
