This comes after the former Muar MP said today’s ruling by the High Court to enter his defence on four criminal charges would not dampen his spirit.
The former youth and sports minister even hinted that he could be defending his parliamentary seat, saying he would leave it to the voters to decide on his fate in the Nov 19 general election.
Twitter user @aminothman told Syed Saddiq to “walk the talk” and respectfully withdraw from being a candidate in GE15. He pointed out that individuals from Umno who had been charged in court had been called robbers, but when Syed Saddiq was charged, they called it selective prosecution.
“It doesn’t add up. Let the High Court clear your name first. Don’t practise double standards,” he said.
User @acappress said if Syed Saddiq wanted to set a “mature political benchmark”, he should resign as Muda president and focus on the court case. “Five years is not that long of a wait for that next GE,” @acappress said.
Meanwhile, @mal_ae advised Syed Saddiq not to nominate himself as a candidate and give others a chance to contest for the Muar parliamentary seat.
“Follow Rafizi’s example. He knew for a fact that he was not guilty and won (his Bafia court case). So, don’t contest,” @mal_ae said, referring to PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli.
While some Twitter users wished Syed Saddiq well in his case, others jokingly welcomed him as a member of the “court cluster”.
The “court cluster” refers to prominent Umno leaders, including party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Najib Razak, who are either on trial or have been convicted on charges such as criminal breach of trust (CBT), abuse of power and money laundering.
“You have become a (member) of the court cluster now. With all due respect, we ask that you pull out as a candidate for GE15,” said @ABarkoba.
Earlier today, justice Azhar Abdul Hamid ordered the 29-year-old to enter his defence on charges of abetting in CBT, misappropriation of assets and money laundering.
Syed Saddiq is accused of abetting the Bersatu youth wing’s former assistant treasurer, Rafiq Hakim, in the commission of CBT of RM1 million. As the then Bersatu Youth chief, Syed Saddiq was entrusted with control of its funds.
He is also charged with misusing RM120,000 from the bank account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise for himself.
The court has fixed Feb 22 to 24, March 13 and 14 and April 10 to 14 for the defence to conduct its case.