Malaysian MP completes 200km run from Muar to KL
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Syed Saddiq, who started his run on June 28, managed to collect RM160,000 (S$46,000) from 2,000 donors.
PHOTO: SYED SADDIQ SYED ABDUL RAHMAN/FACEBOOK
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KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman on July 1 completed his 200km run from his ward in Muar, Johor, to Parliament in Kuala Lumpur.
The run was a protest against the lack of funding for opposition parliamentarians.
Syed Saddiq was accompanied by two other opposition MPs, Mr Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal and Mr Radzi Jidin, in the final 5km stretch of his run.
Syed Saddiq, who started his run on June 28, managed to collect RM160,000 (S$46,000) from 2,000 donors, exceeding his initial target of RM100,000.
He said the money will be used to manage his service centre in Muar, distribute welfare aid to his constituents and procure learning devices for underprivileged students.
Sharing his experience, Syed Saddiq said he was touched to know that many people had supported his endeavour by contributing funds and giving him food.
“This inspired me. They have never been to Muar, but they love this country. That’s why I feel that this is not about Muar but Malaysia as a whole.
“Last night when I crossed the Selangor border, there was a couple who came on a motorbike and gave quite a huge amount of money.
“I was shocked, as they lived in the village nearby and it was obvious that they were not rich,” he said while adding that he was touched by their gesture.
Syed Saddiq had previously said government MPs get RM20 million each term, but the opposition gets nothing.
He also said he had met Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof twice on the issue but the discussions have not yielded any results.
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, cooking and selling lasagna, and even modelling kurta for a brand.
In November 2023, he was sentenced to seven years’ jail and two strokes of the cane, and fined RM10 million after being found guilty of embezzling funds
The handsome politician, who holds the record as Malaysia’s youngest minister
He has filed an appeal against the conviction.
Asked about his physical condition after the run, Syed Saddiq said on July 1 that he had seen a physiotherapist and may have to go for a few more sessions soon. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
