Malaysia’s political rising star Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, who will turn 26 in December, has become the youngest-ever cabinet member in the country after he was sworn in today, Malaysian media reported.
The youngest of four children, the Johor-born Syed’s appointment as youth and sports minister under the new Pakatan Harapan government is also historic in itself, as he is the youngest ever minister in the history of the country, according to The Star.
Syed is a law graduate from the International Islamic University and recently turned down a second offer from Oxford University to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Policy.
The Star described Syed as tall and quick-witted and said he was well-established in the debating community before he entered the political arena, having won Asia’s Best Speaker award at the Asian British Parliamentary (ABP) Debating Championship three times.
Speaking to reporters, Syed said he will push for the voice of Malaysian youths to be heard. “The government believes that the fate and future of youths in the country should be determined by themselves. Therefore, with this appointment, youths will get more opportunities to prove their capability as the driving force of the nation’s future,” he was quoted by The New Straits Times as saying.
His rise in the Malaysian political landscape came about after he won a parliamentary seat in the recent general election which ousted the ruling UMNO-led coalition after 60 years in power.
