YOURSAY | ‘Compare that to Najib’s 12-year sentence.’

Leaders must be ‘whiter than white’ - Syed Saddiq

My2cen: I feel for Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, even though I don’t agree with his association with Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

I feel he has veered off course with a lot of his actions lately, especially calling DAP names and withdrawing his support for the Madani government.

However, it’s hard to view his sentencing as commensurate with his crime, especially when former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak only received 12 years for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering charges.

Not to mention there was a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) for the man who brought 26 MPs from Umno to form the federal government.

I hope Syed Saddiq is successful in appealing the sentence. I wish his parents good health and that they stay strong for their son. I hope he is still able to be with them and not spend his most productive years in jail.

Methink: Syed Saddiq is cynical and likely bitter because he thought that by championing the young and his brand of social justice and equality, he could have been cut some slack for his apparent lack of discretion and maturity in diverting the funds.

He did wrong in diverting the funds. He must know the funds, although raised by his personality and hard work, he did it under Bersatu’s name and rightly it belongs to Bersatu.

It’s like if you threw in your resignation letter before the annual bonus, don’t expect the bonus to be paid to you.

Syed Saddiq should know, as a leader, especially one who has openly declared to be a champion of justice, equality, and responsibility to all, he will be judged on an even higher plane.

To state good leaders “must be whiter than white” is cynicism, immaturity, and irresponsible talking. For that matter, all leaders must be seen to be ‘whiter than white’, especially in our religious, bigotry-charged political system.

He can appeal and hope that from this baptism of trial and prosecution, he can shed his naivety, and “all will love me because I am good and fair” mentality and image.

Good luck in your appeal and come back more mature and wiser as a politician in the full sense and meaning of the word but do carry on upholding social justice, equality, and responsibility.

Righetousness4all: My advice to Syed Saddiq is please, talk less and stay focused on your appeal. Do not vent your anger with others because you got yourself to court with whatever initial action you did.

Do not get into a verbal war with others. Maybe you should consider getting another lawyer or you should think hard and long about the actual incident that led the MACC and Attorney-General Chambers to act on you.

Syed Saddiq steps down as Muda president

Scarecrow is Losing Again: Syed Saddiq should have resigned as Muda chief before the 15th general election. Then, probably he could have retained some credibility.

After GE15 and not getting what he wanted, before and after the election, his resignation has no meaning.

Headhunter: For that, you have my respect, Syed Saddiq. I only wish the other more seasoned politicians would emulate you.

But I guess that is expecting too much. Even when caught with tens and hundreds of millions in their bank accounts, they still scream innocence.

And why is he the only one sentenced for caning while the rest are not?

Cat in the Bag: On one hand, I respect him for quitting his party post when the old guard will not.

On the other hand, I dislike him for a plethora of other reasons. The weight of evidence is against him, and the court has decided.

I do not detect that he did not get a fair trial here, no matter how conspiracy theorists think.

BlueShark1548: Syed Saddiq should have stepped down the moment he was called to enter his defence by the court and that would show he is a man of principle.

Now, he is no better than any of the politicians who were convicted and filed their appeals.

I doubt he did it for personal gain. It looks like a bad judgment call made by him during a crisis.

Kk Voter: Judging by how every comment thus far has readers liking it, and those comments are opposites, Syed Saddiq really divides opinions.

Personally, I think he sets the right example by stepping aside immediately. Even if it is just for show, at least he bothered to put on the right show.

Good luck with your appeal.

Falcon: Whether one hates, tolerates, or loves you, politically, what you have done, stepping aside, puts to shame others who are more senior in age and tenure!

Now there is a precedent set while others talk and spin with no further action. You know who they are!

Let’s see if others have the courage and integrity to follow your steps!

Vijay47: Being found guilty was already a surprise, but I am truly stunned by the severity of the sentence, especially when considered against the punishment others were given.

I hope his appeal concludes with a much more favourable outcome.

In the meantime, I can still relish a silver lining - just imagine the nightmares that others facing the wrath of the law will be going through. Starting tonight.

P Dev Anand Pillai: Well, the young man has shown that he has learned the ‘art’ of which his older counterparts are masters of!

This isn’t something that will jolt the community. They don’t find this to be a serious offence based on the support that older leaders get when they are caught trying to loot the coffers that they were supposed to be trustees of.

But having come with a promise of bringing in fresh ideas of the young, highly educated, and talented, this verdict will not bode well with such ideals!

It only shows that one is just a more handsome version but a chip of the old block at the end of the day. Well, there are still two tiers of appeals to go. Let us see what the Law says.

Tg Rambutan Wad 13: No big hero for stepping down as Muda president. You break the law, you pay for it. Just be a man and accept the punishment meted out by the learned judge and no need to file any appeal. Repent and learn from your mistakes.

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