Former Muda president Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman today said that his criticism of Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has nothing to do with her or their friendship. In a statement, he explained that he expressed his deep concern about Malaysia’s trajectory through criticism directed at DAP and other former allies. After facing backlash for his criticism, especially from Hannah Yeoh, Syed stressed that his criticism was rooted in his commitment to Malaysia’s future and nothing personal.
Critique for Progress
Syed explained that his criticism was not targeted at any individual but rather for the sake of Malaysia’s future. This comes after Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said that she found Syed Saddiq’s remarks hurtful. However, Syed Saddiq clarified that he had to do so even if it affected personal relationships.
In his Facebook post, Syed wrote, “To my friend, Hannah Yeoh, this is not about me, nor our friendship; this is about the future of Malaysia. I respect you & your thoughts. Allow me to share mine. I worry for Malaysia’s future. A future where corruption is normalised by the political elites.”
Concern over silence on Corruption
Former Muda president Syed Saddiq warned against the trend of selective prosecution, where minor offences get harsh penalties and grand corruption goes unchecked.
Among others, he said Pakatan Harapan parties have become notably silent about the littoral combat ship (LSC) scandal that was costing the country billions of ringgit. “Billions of dollars in taxpayer money lost in the LCS corruption scandal, completely muted post-election by the very same people who spoke against it before, ” he added.
Importance of speaking up
Despite facing backlash for his critique, Syed said that not raising voice against such matters can lead to devastating consequences for future generations.