The Malaysian Insight

WAN Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal has promised a new era for Bersatu’s youth wing, saying it would not be dominated by any single individual.

The newly minted youth chief said his predecessor, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, was the only one people knew from the party’s wing and hogged all the limelight.

“Last time, the strength of Armada (Bersatu’s youth wing) was dependent on a figure who was well-known and well-liked on social media, Syed Saddiq.

“The new leadership under me wants this improved, as a political party should be popular because of the whole wing, not just the leader,” Wan Fayhsal told The Malaysian Insight.

The deputy youth and sports minister said he wants to make the youth faction more in tune with Malay nationalism compared to his predecessor.

“I want to see a more Malay Armada that has a nationalistic basis compared to the previous leadership. This is what we are offering and this is what we are working on in the new youth setup,” said Wan Fayhsal.

Armada wants to replicate the success of Umno Youth, which produced many credible leaders in the past and be a force in Malay politics, he said.

“(As with) how leaders have been produced from the Umno Youth factory, which is respected by society, Bersatu youth aims to do the same.

“Whoever joins us, we will produce dignified Malay leaders who have integrity and a clear vision.”

Wan Fayhsal won the Bersatu youth elections after defeating Mohd Muzzamil Ismail in August. The elections took place after the previous youth chief, Syed Saddiq, was sacked from the party.

Moving on, the senator said he has brought all the different factions in the youth wing under his leadership to fight for the party’s struggle.

“After winning the elections, we closed ranks and gave other groups leadership opportunities and positions in accordance with their qualifications and the votes they received,” Wan Fayhsal said.

The youth, who make up the bulk of Bersatu’s membership, are now focused on winning everyone’s hearts, including those from urban and rural areas.

“We want to capture the hearts of young urban voters but we also need to swap hats when we speak to rural voters. Maybe the narrative we will bring into urban areas is the same as Muda,” Wan Fayhsal said, referring to Syed Saddiq’s new youth-centred party.

He said it would not be a problem for him and those in Bersatu youth to swap narratives when speaking to urban and rural voters as they were well equipped in either.

“I do not mean if we speak Malay, we do not understand the youth economy. I was also trained in London. I am as progressive as Syed Saddiq, maybe even more in certain areas.

“But we need to know our audience. In urban areas, we need to speak the language of the urbanites or the Bangsar bubble. In villages, we can speak how PAS and Umno leaders have done in the past.

“We need to be fair to all voters, not just youth or old people. But we need to remember our party’s core business is to defend the interests of the Malay race first,” said Wan Fayhsal.

The “Bangsar bubble” is a derogatory term to describe urban groups that do not understand Malaysian politics as a whole, beyond what affects them. – November 13, 2020.