Teamwork is key to success
PETALING JAYA: Syed Saddiq Syed Abdull Rahman was not even born when Malaysia last lifted the Thomas Cupp title in May 1992.
But the vibrant and dynamic Syed Saddiq is now thee new Youth and Sports Minister and hopes are high that Malaysia wwill end its long wait for a first Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo under his leadership.
Syed Saddiq was sworn in as the 18th Youth and Sports Minister yesterday while Steven Simm Chee Keong, the MP for Bukit Mertajam, was named his deputy.
The Johorborn’s appointment to a full minister’s role under the new Pakatan Harapan govvernment is historic in itself as he is the youngest minister to hold such a position. He will only be 26 on Dec 6.
Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wasw the previous youngest when he wasw appointed as Culture, Youth and Sports Minister at the age of 33 in 1986.
The youngest of ffour children, Syed Saddiq admitted he hash big shoes to fill in taking over from previous Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. Under Khairy, Malaysia celebrated their bestever outing at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 returning with four silvers anda one bronze medal.
Last year, Malaysia also basked in glory off having world champions in several sports apart from becomingg runaway overall wwinners at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Gamees in August.
“I do havee heavy responsibilities to shoulder but I believe I can do this and achieve things wwith the support of everyone fromm the ministry working together as a team,” said Syed Saddiq, who is a diehard ffootball fan.
“The voices of the young have beenn heard with my appointment. The youths in thiis coun try will not be neglected. They are the ones who decide the future of this country and it’s a recognition from the government of my appointment.”
The law graduate from International Islamic University, recently turned down a second offer from Oxford University to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Policy.
The tall and quickwitted Syed Saddiq was also a legend in the debating community before he entered the political world, having won Asia’s Best Speaker award at the Asian British Parliamentary (ABP) Debating Championship three times.
His rise in the Malaysian political landscape came about after he won the Muar parliamentary constituency in the country’s 14th general election, beating Barisan Nasional’s incumbent candidate Datuk Seri Razali Ibrahim, who was a former Youth and Sports deputy minister from 20092013.
Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi, who is chef de mission of the Malaysian contingent to the Asian Games in Indonesia next month, welcomed Syed Saddiq’s appointment.
“I think it’s the most appropriate choice bearing in mind his age and vitality,” said Azim.
“We look forward to working with Syed Saddiq and hope to get his full support especially with the Asian Games in Indonesia just over a month away.
“There are funding matters still on hold and we hope to meet soon as it requires his approval,” said Azim, who is also the National Sports Institute (NSI) chairman and Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) deputy president.
A total of 13 ministers and 23 deputies received their letters of appointment from the Yang diPertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V yesterday.