Quora Answer: Do You Think MUDA Leader Syed Saddiq bin Syed Abdul Rahman Should Entice Younger Leaders from Other Parties to Join Him?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Do you think MUDA leader Syed Saddiq bin Syed Abdul Rahman should entice younger leaders from PKR, Amanah, DAP and Pejuang to join his party?  Should leaders like Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, Anwar bin Ibrahim, Mohamad bin Sabu, Mahathir bin Mohamad, and Shafie bin Apdal retire, and support him?” 

The question does not make sense on several levels. 

Firstly, the question assumes that Syed Saddiq bin Syed Abdul Rahman is such a giant on the Malaysian political scene that younger leaders across the political spectrum would swallow their ambitions to support him.  Syed Saddiq has not been around enough, or done enough, to build up that sort of political capital. 

Secondly, his party is brand new.  It has no track record, and no major policy platforms that has been proven to move the electorate.  Politicians will only move to his party is they are confident he is going to win elections, and they will come to power.  In Malaysian politics, everything is for sale.  They are not joining him for the feel good factor.  He is likely viewed as a naïve idealist. 

Thirdly, why would veteran politicians retire, give up power and all that money, just to support some child?  What would they gain from it?  They spent decades climbing to the top of the food chain, and have dozens of closets full of skeletons.  What is in it for them to suddenly support Syed Saddiq? 

Syed Saddiq has potential, and is an over achiever for his age.  He likely has a vision of how he would like Malaysia to be.  That vision is inclement to the Malaysia of these veteran politicians and the people who follow them.  This is about power.  Power is addictive.  They are not going to give it up for some young upstart, who in their view, is biadab, disrespectful.