Syed Saddiq rejects Bersatu's decision to work with Umno

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 29): Bersatu Youth leader and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman is against his party's decision to work with Umno to form a new government, Malaysiakini reported this morning.

"I became a politician at a time when my country was viewed with disdain by the world and embarrassed by corruption.

"I believed that Malaysians have the right to a better government. One that is free from corruption, respected and with dignity.

"I would like to stress one thing - I will never work with the corrupt. Far from it, I won't form a government with them," Syed Saddiq said in a video message uploaded on Twitter this morning.

Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Marzuki Yahya said yesterday that all 36 of Bersatu's MPs, including new addition from PKR defectors, are now supporting party president Muhyiddin Yassin as the new prime minister.

According to Malaysiakini, the party is actually split with some MPs are still siding with Bersatu chairperson Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who is adamant that the party should not work with Umno, the party which has several leaders facing prosecution for grand corruption.

Malaysiakini reported that Syed Saddiq conceded that his position may upset certain parties but indicated that he won't budge.

"This is no longer about party or majority, this is about identity and integrity.

"I understand my position will not sit well with certain politicians but politicians come and go, Malaysians are the true masters of this country," he said.

Bersatu Youth vice-chief Aizad Roslan, in a statement last night, said the wing will continue to support the party's supreme council's decision to back Mahathir as prime minister.

He said the meeting yesterday which declared that Bersatu's 36 MPs will back Muhyiddin as prime minister, cannot represent the party as it was only discussed among MPs and was not endorsed by the entire supreme council line-up.

"Bersatu Youth reiterates that it will not work with individuals plagued by corruption scandals and are facing trial," he said.

Bersatu supreme council member A Kadir Jasin, a Mahathir loyalist, yesterday also claimed that the meeting to declare Muhyiddin the prime ministerial candidate was not endorsed by the party's supreme council.

Similar splits could be observed at the state level where, in Johor, with Muhyiddin's blessing, Bersatu, BN and PAS have taken over the government with Johor Umno chief Hasni Mohammad as the new menteri besar.

In contrast, Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir, who is also Mahathir's son, has maintained Bersatu's cooperation with Harapan in the Kedah government. Mukhriz is the Kedah menteri besar.

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