Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has turned down Muda’s offer to return as party president following his acquittal on corruption and money laundering charges, saying he needs more time to decide on the matter.
Syed Saddiq, who temporarily stepped down as Muda president after his conviction by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in 2023, was offered the post in June when the Court of Appeal cleared him of all charges.
“I have informed the party’s leadership that I need a little bit more time,” he said at an event here today.
“I want to spend time with my family, focus on my constituency work in Muar, and continue fundraising for local needs.
“I’ve already relayed my decision to the party leadership, and I will leave it at that.” he said.
Syed Saddiq said he stepped down as Muda president in 2023 as he wanted to show that holding the presidency required being “whiter than white”.
He was convicted by the Kuala Lumpur High Court of abetting in criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of assets and money laundering in November 2023.
The former youth and sports minister was sentenced to seven years’ jail, a RM10 million fine and two strokes of the rotan. The sentences were stayed pending an appeal to the Court of Appeal.
On June 25, the Court of Appeal unanimously acquitted him after Justice Noorin Badaruddin said the prosecution had failed to prove the ingredients of the predicate charges of abetting in CBT and dishonest misappropriation.
Noorin also said Syed Saddiq should have been acquitted without his defence being called during the trial.
Acting Muda president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz then offered to return the party presidency to Syed Saddiq after stating that he had cleared his name in court.
She said this was decided by Muda’s central executive committee, which agreed that Syed Saddiq’s return to leadership would strengthen the party, especially in gaining support ahead of the next general election.
