Muda has unveiled its first four candidates in the upcoming six state elections.
This first batch, led by party secretary-general Amir Hariri Abd Hadi, will be contesting in Selangor.
The candidates are Amir for Sri Serdang, Saiyidah Izzati Nur Razak Maideen (Batu Tiga), Thanusha Ramanieswaran (Sentosa), and Melanie Ting (Bukit Antarabangsa).
Besides Sri Serdang, which was won by Amanah, the other three seats were won by PKR in 2018.
Each of these seats was won with a five-digit majority.
Amir, 32, was a long-time youth and human rights activist before joining Muda.
The incumbent for Seri Serdang is Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud – who is not expected to defend her seat.
Batu Tiga candidate Saiyidah Izzati, 35, is a lawyer and currently the Shah Alam Muda deputy chief.
In June, she was appointed by the state government as a Selangor Unity Ambassador for Batu Tiga.
The Batu Tiga incumbent is state exco member Rodziah Ismail.
In Sentosa, Muda candidate Thanusha, 24, is a party central executive committee member and a teacher who currently serves refugee communities.
The incumbent in the seat she is contesting is Gunarajah George.
Meanwhile, Muda’s Bukit Antarabangsa candidate Ting, 23, is the party’s information chief-of-staff and is a women’s empowerment activist.
The incumbent for Bukit Antarabangsa is former menteri besar Azmin Ali.
However, Azmin is not expected to defend the seat, with rife speculation that he would be contesting in Hulu Kelang instead.
Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said the candidates went through a thorough vetting process to ensure they can play a role in the check and balance of the state government.
The candidates are all pro-rakyat and are capable of serving the communities in the areas they are contesting in, he added.
“Our candidates are fresh and new, with high idealism and we are certain that if they were given a chance, they can be a voice for the people.
“They truly reflect the colours of Malaysia and they will be your voice of conscience,” Syed Saddiq said at a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.
When asked about the young age of some of their candidates, Muda deputy president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz said what these candidates lack in experience, they make up for in passion and idealism.
“If you give them the chance to prove to the people, they will prove to everyone out there that if you give young people a chance, you will be able to give birth to more leaders in Malaysia who are genuine and don’t do this for politics of money and power.
“The best thing about young people is that the future is ours and we’re supposed to be the ones to be given a chance to defend our future,” she said.
Syed Saddiq also said Muda candidates will all be required to declare their assets publicly.
Muda is also committed to fielding women candidates in 50 percent of the seats they will be contesting, he added.
The next batch of candidates is expected to be announced next Monday. – Malaysiakini