Syed Saddiq
Syed Saddiq bin Syed Abdul Rahman (Jawi: سيد صديق بن سيد عبدالرحمن; born 6 December 1992) is a Malaysian politician and activist. He currently is the Member of Parliament (MP) of Muar since 2018.
Yang Berhormat Tuan Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman MP | |
---|---|
سيد صديق بن سيد عبدالرحمن | |
Minister of Youth and Sports | |
In office 2 July 2018 – 24 February 2020 | |
Monarch | Muhammad V Abdullah |
Prime Minister | Mahathir Mohamad |
Deputy | Steven Sim |
Preceded by | Khairy Jamaluddin |
Succeeded by | Reezal Merican Naina Merican |
Constituency | Muar |
ARMADA Youth Chief of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party | |
In office 7 September 2016 – 28 May 2020 | |
President | Muhyiddin Yassin |
Deputy | Mohd Aizat Roslan |
Preceded by | Position Established |
Succeeded by | Mohd Aizat Roslan (Acting) |
Constituency | Muar |
Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Muar, Johor | |
Assumed office 9 May 2018 | |
Preceded by | Razali Ibrahim (UMNO—BN) |
Majority | 6,953 (2018) |
Personal details | |
Born | Syed Saddiq bin Syed Abdul Rahman 6 December 1992 Pulai, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia |
Citizenship | Malaysian |
Political party | BERSATU (2016-2020) PEJUANG (since 2020) |
Education | Royal Military College |
Alma mater | International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) |
Occupation | Politician, activist |
Website | Official website |
Syed Saddiq on Facebook Syed Saddiq on Parliament of Malaysia |
Saddiq becomes an Independent since May 2020 after he was sacked a member and the Youth Chief of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party or Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU), which was component party of Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.[1] He was the Minister of Youth and Sports of the PH government from 2018 to 2020.[2]
Early life
Saddiq was born on 6 December 1992 in Pulai, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. His father was a Singaporean, a construction worker at Singapore. His mother was an English teacher.[3] He had studied at the Royal Military College (RMC) before continuing his studies at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). During his time at IIUM, he competed in an Asian-level debate competition and successfully won the United Asian Debating Championship (UADC).[4]
In 2017, he allegedly rejected a scholarship worth about RM400,000 to pursue his studies at Oxford University, England to remain active in politics.[5] A year later, after being elected as MP at the age of 25, Syed Saddiq once again allegedly dismissed another scholarship offer, this time rejecting the Chevening Scholarship proposal to pursue a Master in Public Policy at Oxford University.[6]
Politics
Saddiq is the leader of Armada; the youth wing of the BERSATU.[7] He has been a spokesperson for the party since its inception in September 2016 and is considered one of the founding members and sits on the party council.[8][9]
Saddiq made his debut contesting the 2018 general election (GE14) for the Muar parliamentary seat and was elected to the Parliament.[10][11] He was then appointed as the Minister of Youth and Sport in the PH new government making him the youngest ever federal minister in 2018 since Malaysia's independence.[12]
As the Minister of Youth and Sports, Saddiq has pushed for a lower voting age, or eligibility to vote in Malaysia, from 21 to 18 years old ahead of the 15th General Election (GE15).[13] However, he has agreed that first a political exposure programme for the young people of Malaysia is needed.[14] In July 2019, Saddiq has tabled a Bill in Parliament to amend the Federal Constitution to lower the voting age to 18[15] but was withdrawn and re-tabled later after it was tweaked to accommodate some changes.[16] The Dewan Rakyat on 16 July unanimously passed the re-tabled amendments Bill to lower the voting age, as well as eligibility to contest in election to 18 and automatic registration of voters by Election Commission (EC).[17][18][19]
Election results
Year | Constituency | Government | Votes | Pct | Opposition(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | P146 Muar, Johor | Syed Saddiq (PPBM) | 22,341 | 53.09% | Razali Ibrahim (UMNO) | 15,388 | 36.57% | 42,719 | 6,953 | 84.02% | ||
Abdul Aziz Talib (PAS) | 4,354 | 10.34% |
Awards and accolades
- One Young World Politician of the Year - Shortlisted: 2020[23]
External links
References
- "Dr M, Mukhriz, Syed Saddiq and two others sacked from Bersatu". The Star Online. MSN. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- Syed Farradino Omar. "MALAYSIA BAHARU: Syed Saddiq: Muar Kitten Ready to Roar in Putrajaya". Awani Review. Astro Awani. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- Amy Chew (21 March 2018). "Johor born Syed Saddiq an emerging voice for Malaysian?". Channel News Asia. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- Dina Murad (12 June 2015). "IIUM debate team is Asia's best". The Star Online. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- "Syed Saddiq turns down Oxford for politics". New Straits Times. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- "Syed Saddiq turns down Oxford a second time". Free Malaysia Today. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- "Malaysia: Mahathir-led Group Files Paperwork for New Party". BenarNews. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- "Critics of Malaysian PM submit papers to register new political party". Channel News Asia. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- "Bersatu". pribumibersatu.org.my. Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- "PH's Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman wins Muar". Free Malaysia Today. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- Amar Shah Mohsen and Haikal Jalil (10 May 2018). "Syed Saddiq: Thank you Muar, Malaysia". The Sun Daily. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- "10 Things About Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, Asia's Top Debater". Malay Mail. 27 March 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- "Voting age should be lowered to 18, says Syed Saddiq - Nation |". The Star Online. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- "Gov't aims to lower voting age to empower youth: Syed Saddiq". New Straits Times. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- Hemananthani Sivanandam, Martin Carvalho, Rahimy Rahim and Tarrence Tan (4 July 2019). "Bill to lower voting age tabled for first reading". The Star Online. Retrieved 16 July 2019.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Hemananthani Sivanandam, Martin Carvalho, Rahimy Rahim and Tarrence Tan (10 July 2019). "Govt withdraws 'Vote at 18' Bill to tweak it (corrected)". The Star Online. Retrieved 16 July 2019.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Martin Carvalho, Hemananthani Sivanandam, Rahimy Rahim and Tarrence Tan (16 July 2019). "Dewan Rakyat passes Bill to amend Federal Constitution to lower voting age to 18". The Star Online. Retrieved 16 July 2019.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Nuradzimmah Daim, Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi (16 July 2019). "Dewan Rakyat approves 'Vote 18'". New Straits Times. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- Clarissa Chung (16 July 2019). "Syed Saddiq lauds move to lower voting age to 18". The Star Online. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2018. Results only available from the 2004 election.
- "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE - 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- Zakiah Koya (26 June 2020). "Syed Saddiq shortlisted for Young Politician of the Year award". The Star Online. Retrieved 15 July 2020.