A Word of Caution For PH In Johor

Despite happily accepting assistance from PH, some in MUDA still find it concerning to associate themselves too closely with their erstwhile seniors.  

For example, Tenang candidate Lim Wei Jiet, when asked on the electoral alliance simply replied, “What we have done is we entered a very loose electoral pact. We used our own logo. We have a different manifesto compared to Harapan.

"The only reason why we align together is to prevent clashes that would only benefit Umno/BN.”

There are a thousand things left unsaid, but will this mean that MUDA will abandon their current opposition allies if they find themselves in another PKR-MUDA negotiation quagmire?

Take for example, DAP’s anti-Malay image. Lim only had this to say, ““I am not saying DAP is bad. I am saying that there is this perception that DAP is bad, which I think is unfair and I think they are trying to put that label on Muda as well,” s

For all its faults, PH have always tried their best to augment or cover each other’s deficiencies. They understood that they cover different electorates, under a single banner.

MUDA is unwilling to make sacrifices to its debut, unable to compromise on its unified stance, despite taking all the endorsements and help it can get from their senior DAP colleagues such as Hannah Yeoh.

This kind of behaviour within the party’s leadership is concerning, but looking at recent history, perhaps it is no surprise.

It is led by Syed Saddiq after all.

Following the kick, he received from BERSATU, Syed Saddiq has been working hard to court the minorities of Malaysia that he threw under the bus. This includes being chummy with the biggest party in Parliament, DAP, through various social media stunts as well as campaigning for them in the recent Sabah by-elections.

Of course, it does not make sense for him to cater to the Malay nationalist voter base again as none of the main parties wants him in their fold. Appealing to the middle ground, and the urban and younger voters is his only choice left.

The willingness to u-turn quickly just paints the picture that he is a political chameleon with no real principles. It probably would not have mattered much if he did an excellent job as the Minister of Youth and Sports – alas he did not. Aside from lowering the voting age (which was wanted by both sides anyways), his tenure has been unremarkable at best.

Unfortunately, we see the same patterns with his new party MUDA. Despite having established themselves for months now, with many Malaysians signing up as members, the fledgling party has no concrete policy plans and core principles to speak of. Worse still, no organisational structure has been announced – leaving many to wonder if it will just turn into an NGO at the end of the day.

It is time for Malaysians to put a stop to this. While his impacts are still limited today, Syed Saddiq – if given free rein to be the political chameleon that he is – may evolve one day into a gifted demagogue that may put many Malaysians worse off than where they started. Let’s deny him the opportunity. It is no surprise that many still remember such hypocrisy.