Syed Saddiq steps down as Muda president, remains Muar MP

PETALING JAYA, Nov 9 — Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman announced today that he has decided to step down as Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) president following his conviction for corruption charges this morning.

He said, however, that he will still hold the position of Muar member of Parliament.

“I no longer deserve the role of party president and will immediately vacate the position while I clear my name in court,” he told reporters during a press conference at Muda headquarters here, today.

Muda deputy chairman Amira Aisya Abd Aziz will now hold the position of the party’s acting president as Syed Saddiq’s appeal against his conviction gets underway.

When asked if he will still serve as the Muar MP, he answered in the affirmative.

“Yes, as the lawyers have briefed, there’s a stay of execution and stay of conviction,” he said.

Stay of execution refers to a direction by a court to stop some form of enforcement action while stay of conviction refers to a legal order that temporarily halts the enforcement of a criminal conviction or sentence pending the outcome of an appeal.

Syed Saddiq said staying on as the party’s president would defeat the purpose of Muda as a political party as it was established on the basis of bringing ‘new politics’ to the country and that the position of Muda’s president must be transparent and honest.

As a result of his conviction for corruption over the misappropriation of funds belonging to Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada) earlier today, he said he no longer deserves the role.

Despite ceasing to be party president, he said that he will continue to support the party and collaborate with its members.

“Amira Aisyah and the leadership will decide on the next steps. Muda is bigger than Syed Saddiq, and the presidency is an important role with a high threshold.

“Therefore, I appeal to clear my name in court, not just for the public but also for Muda members,” he said.

Amira Aisya said the decision by the High Court would not weaken Muda but instead sends a clear signal that its struggle must continue.

She further said that Syed Saddiq’s struggle from the moment he entered politics, and that of the party are “one and the same”.

“We will continue our struggle to fight for all relevant institutions of the country, the policies that are close to the hearts of the people and clean up politics.

“We will prevail even as Syed Saddiq vacates his role as party president,” she said during the press conference today.

Syed Saddiq was today found guilty of corruption over the misappropriation of funds belonging to Armada — the Youth wing of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) — where he had served as its chief three years ago.

High Court Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid said the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt on the charges against Syed Saddiq.

---