KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — Political veteran Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz has reportedly said it is time for the country to move away from politics focusing on race, religion and gender.
Malaysiakini reported the former international trade and industry minister as saying that leaders of the country should now just be judged on age alone.
“Our destinies are common and intertwined as Malaysians. We should address issues which are crosscutting, with no discrimination or favouritism or undue bias.
“We are already facing divisiveness and fractiousness, in our society, festered and exacerbated by narrowly focused politicking. Now there is that additional chasm based on age,” she said in an interview with the portal.
The former Wanita Umno chief was commenting on former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman’s move to form a new party for youth.
Although she did not openly say anything about support to the 28-year-old Muar MP, she said that politics should be concerned about improving conditions for all in the areas of economic opportunities, education and social well-being.
“Leadership resides in individuals regardless of age, creed, faith, gender or heritage. Because a leader leads everyone, not just a select group,” she said.
Syed Saddiq confirmed that he will establish an independent youth-based party after saying he was not joining former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s new Parti Pejuang Tanah Air.
He said he was inspired by the youth movement around the world including Thailand’s Future Forward and France’s En Marche.
