KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) is planning a nationwide tour with former Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman to explain current affairs to the public.
PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that the tour, which is expected to begin after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, was approved by the coalition’s supreme council during a previous meeting.
“Syed Saddiq supports us (PN). Although he’s not with us (as a member), he is our ally,” Muhyiddin told a press conference after PN’s convention with elected representatives today.
“The tour will visit every state and explain current affairs to the people, (while) we listen to the people’s worries and determine our role in reducing the burden shouldered by them.
“It’s a big initiative (that will involve) gatherings and speeches from (PN component) party leaders,” he added.
Syed Saddiq, who is also Muar MP, stepped down from his role as Muda president in November last year after the high court found him guilty of two counts of money laundering, one count of criminal breach of trust and one count of misappropriating Bersatu-linked funds amounting to RM1.12 million.
About two months prior to Syed Saddiq’s guilty verdict, Muda had pulled its support from the unity government and joined the opposition bench as a third force, following the youth-based party’s protest towards the discontinuation of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s graft trial.
Prior to the Sheraton Move in early 2020, which caused the collapse of the first Pakatan Harapan administration, Syed Saddiq had served as Bersatu Youth chief.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said today that PN would be ramping up its efforts to pull in support from non-Malay communities by adopting a more inclusive approach when handling issues related to the people.
“We understand and know why we have less support from the non-Malay communities compared to Malay voters, which is why during the convention today, we recognised that there’s a need to act more effectively in strengthening the position of non-Malays.
“We have to be more inclusive. If we can prove our intent through our views and actions, then the non-Malays will understand that we’re not just a ‘Malay-only’ party, but a Malay party that is based on Malaysian values,” he added. – March 9, 2024