‘Candidates above 40 should not contest Umno Youth post’
KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) Youth has questioned Umno’s reliance on personalities above 40 to helm its Youth wing.
In an open letter to Umno Youth on Sunday, PPBM Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said candidates contesting the Umno Youth post were mostly aged around 42.
“On a personal note, I respect (former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr) Asyraf Wajdi (Dusuki) and (Umno Youth deputy chief) Khairul Azwan (Harun).
“However, these candidates do not fulfil the criteria of youth as presented (by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin in the Malaysia Youth Policy, which seeks to set the youth age at 30).
“The situation is worsened when (Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri) Jamal Yunos, who has broken the law and has yet to surrender himself to the authorities, has decided to vie for the Umno Youth chief post. He is 48.
“(This development) has deviated from what was promised by Khairy in 2015. Now, the Malaysia Youth Policy is seen as a populist policy meant only to garner youth votes,” said the Muar member of parliament.
He said this was a “shameful development” as Umno Youth had been a platform for budding politicians to rise as future leaders.
He noted that Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein was 38 when he held the Umno Youth post prior to Khairy, who was 33 when he helmed the post.
He said in its efforts to reform, Umno must show its dedication to youth and uphold the aims put forth by Khairy.
“This proposal will not only impact Umno, but also create a healthy competition.”
He said the healthy competitive environment would attract talented youth to top party positions.
He noted that Pakatan Harapan, through its component parties, competed to place young and talented candidates in leadership positions.
He said Umno Youth could first start with having candidates below 40 if it faced challenges to find candidates below 30.
“I believe that Umno has many qualified candidates below 40 who can be supported.
“We need true reformation for our country to build a strong opposition and we must begin now.”