Malaysian MP Syed Saddiq becomes a model to raise funds for constituents
Sign up now: Get insights on the biggest stories in Malaysia
Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was often seen with singer-actress Bella Astillah promoting a clothing brand for the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations.
PHOTOS: SYEDSADDIQ/INSTAGRAM
Follow topic:
A Malaysian MP said he was forced to take up a modelling gig to raise funds for his constituents after attempts to secure government funding for his ward failed.
Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said he modelled traditional Malay attire for a local fashion house to promote its Hari Raya collection as his repeated attempts to obtain funds were unsuccessful.
“Some MPs were angry that I became a model, but I had to do it,” he said in a parliamentary debate on Feb 18.
“Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), I managed to raise over RM1 million (S$302,000) for the Muar constituency.”
Previously, ruling Pakatan Harapan MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid had advised the former youth and sports minister not to neglect his constituents after he was often seen with singer-actress Bella Astillah promoting a clothing brand for the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations.
Bella was formerly married to Singapore singer-actor Aliff Aziz. The pair made headlines in March 2024 when Aliff was detained by the religious authorities on suspicion of committing khalwat (close proximity) with Malaysian actress Ruhainies.
In an Instagram post last week, Mr Syed Saddiq, 32, said the RM1 million was not in the form of cash but goods for his constituents.
These include clothing for adults and children, as well as food items for the needy.
“I will do whatever it takes for the benefit of Muar residents,” he said in the post.
In the Feb 18 parliamentary debate, Mr Syed Saddiq – a strident critic of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration – urged the government to stop being evasive about allocating funds to opposition MPs.
He said he had followed Datuk Seri Anwar’s advice and met Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof on the issue, but the discussions have not yielded any results.
“I have negotiated five times, and have sent in many letters, but more than 400 days later, not a single sen has been given to the Muar Parliament Service Centre. If you don’t want to give, just say so,” he said during the parliamentary debate.
Mr Syed Saddiq is known for raising funds in attention-grabbing ways – by shaving his hair in the Bald Challenge Fund-raiser; conducting public speaking, debating and critical thinking classes; as well as cooking and selling lasagne.
In 2024, he completed a 200km run from Muar to the Parliament Building
He withdrew his support for Mr Anwar’s unity government
In November 2023, Mr Syed Saddiq was sentenced to seven years in jail and two strokes of the cane,
The politician, who holds the record as Malaysia’s youngest minister
He remains an MP as he tries to overturn his corruption case verdict through the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court, a process that could take several years.
