KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has found himself in hot water for criticising DAP and PKR leaders.
After about a year of urging by several PH leaders for Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to pass the baton to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Syed Saddiq, on Tuesday, accused them of ignoring the ruling pact’s consensus.
Syed Saddiq, who is Muar member of parliament, named nine PKR and DAP leaders in his statement. They were Ramkarpal Singh, Dr P. Ramasamy, and Ronnie Liu of DAP; as well as Dr Syed Husin Ali, Datuk Johari Abdul, Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid, Akmal Nasir, Rafizi Ramli and Ahmad Syukri Razab of PKR.
Abdullah said he did not care what Syed Saddiq thought of him, adding that the latter could continue criticising him.
“He’s just a boy and has only begun his career (in politics). He can make any comment he wants.
“He can even curse me and I would not care because it won’t give me rashes anyway,” he said.
“What’s important is for the (PH) consensus to be realised.”
Syed Husin said: “I don’t want to comment. There is no value (in Syed Saddiq’s statement) for me to comment.”
Ramasamy told Syed Saddiq to mind his own business and not question the right of PKR and DAP leaders in asking Dr Mahathir to honour the transition agreement.
“Who is Syed (Saddiq) to tell me what I can and cannot say? What is wrong with setting a date for the power transition?
“As a minister, his performance leaves much to be desired for. Perhaps he should look at himself first before commenting about others.”
To ease the tension, Anwar urged PH leaders and members yesterday to stop insisting on a timeline for the transfer of power.
“I have given a guarantee to support Dr Mahathir in his efforts to lead the country, especially in strengthening the economy.
“PH and Dr Mahathir have repeatedly asserted our commitment to carry out the transition process as agreed.
“We should respect the decision to make it peaceful and orderly.”
In a statement yesterday, seven DAP Youth leaders took a swipe at Syed Saddiq, saying after the recent drug bust in Puchong, the PH Youth chief should not be telling others to put their house in order.
“Look who’s talking about putting the house in order? If there is anyone who should put his house in order, it is Syed
Saddiq.
“He should put the party wing that he is leading in order first before trying to advise others.
“As Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s election is nearing, we can see more heroic statements from Syed Saddiq, who is defending his post,” said the DAP Youth leaders.
PKR vice-president Chang Lih Kang tweeted in response to Syed Saddiq, saying that those he named were not questioning the PH consensus, but the lack of a specific date.
“What exactly is the PH consensus? Two years or no date? If it is two years, then it’s correct that it should be May 2020.
“If there is no date, then it could be at any time.
“What is your answer, Syed bro?” he wrote.
Prior to the 14th General Election, the PH presidential council announced its decision to make Dr Mahathir prime minister if the pact won and Anwar would take over after a certain period.
Up to today, no date had been fixed on when the transition of power would be carried out.
Nevertheless, Dr Mahathir had said he would hand over the office to Anwar as promised, as soon as he resolved issues about the country and its people.
This, he said, could take two to three years, at the very least.