Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, 27, said the party, which doesn’t yet have a reputation, would strive for equal representation of girls and young people in parliament and abolish the patronage system that critics say has weakened the country’s competitiveness.
Will Malaysian Muhyiddin survive this yr as prime minister?
Will Malaysian Muhyiddin survive this yr as prime minister?
“We want to take Malaysia out of politics based on money and power and refresh it with young people with the right heart, mind and interests who can take Malaysia forward,” he said on Thursday.
The average age of Malaysian lawmakers is around 55, which is a priority in a rustic where the common age of its 32 million people is 29.
“There is a real need for a new political culture to replace the current one, which is outdated and does not engage young people,” said Qyira Yusri, a youth activist who this week held first talks to hitch Syed Saddiq’s party.
Syed Saddiq said 33 young people of various ethnicities and backgrounds participated within the talks, including academics, religious leaders and representatives of the technology and company sectors.
He believes the group’s diversity might be a bonus despite differences on controversial issues equivalent to same-sex relationships, that are banned within the Muslim-majority country.
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Syed Saddiq talks concerning the monarchy of Malaysia
Syed Saddiq talks concerning the monarchy of Malaysia
The recent party will seek to limit political donations from private entities and as an alternative depend on recent methods equivalent to online crowdfunding, he said.
Why Syed Saddiq’s recent youth party won’t help Malaysia’s political struggles
Why Syed Saddiq’s recent youth party won’t help Malaysia’s political struggles
Mahathir told a news conference on Thursday that he was undecided the group would achieve success.
“I don’t think it will be very successful, because although young people constitute a large part of the electorate, it is not enough for people to win just because they have the support of young people.”
Malaysia has no plans to carry a general election before 2023, but there was speculation that polls could possibly be held earlier.
