Syed Saddiq vacates Muda president post until appeals conclude

THE Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) presidential post held by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (picture) is vacated until the conclusion of his appeal for his conviction case.

He said the task of the president will be taken over in the meantime by Muda’s deputy president, Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz.

“Nobody, even me, is bigger than the party founded for the rakyat,” he told a press conference in the party’s headquarters today.

Earlier today, Syed Saddiq was handed a seven year jail term along with two strokes of cane and a total of RM10 million fine after being found guilty on four corruption related charges which includes criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of funds and money laundering. However he also obtained a stay of execution pending appeals.

Meanwhile, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said the Muar MP will keep his seat in the parliament until he has exhausted all legal avenues.

“Until all his legal means have been exhausted, I think he has two more courts to go,” Johari told a press conference at his office in Parliament building this afternoon.

The Federal Constitution Article 48(4)(a) shows that an MP will be disqualified 14 days from the date he or she was sentenced to not less than RM2,000 in fine or not less than one year jail and has not received a free pardon.

But Article 48(4)(b) provides that if an MP appeals the conviction or sentence within 14 days, the MP would only be disqualified 14 days from when the court decides on the appeal.

Syed Saddiq’s lawyer, Gobind Singh Deo confirmed they would be filing an appeal this evening. – TMR / pic TMR FILE