9-11-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, a Malaysian lawmaker representing the youth-bred party that withdrew from the ruling coalition due to concerns of graft, has been pronounced guilty of corruption by the Kuala Lumpur High Court, as reported by state news agency Bernama on Thursday.
Syed Saddiq is a member of the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA), which withdrew its support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition in September, citing corruption concerns after the country’s deputy premier had his graft charges dropped.
The court found Syed Saddiq guilty on four charges, including criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property, and money laundering.
The former youth and sports minister was charged with abetting a former official of the Bersatu party in misappropriating 1 million ringgit ($213,675.21) in funds allocated for the party’s youth wing. The alleged offense took place in March 2020 when Bersatu held power.
Syed Saddiq was previously the leader of Bersatu’s youth wing but departed from the party to establish his own party, MUDA, in 2020. Despite the charges, he is permitted to retain his position as a member of parliament.
