This week, we highlight the case of Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, a former youth and sports Minister from Malaysia was sentenced for abetting in criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of funds, money laundering and corruption.

Syed Saddiq was a member of the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA), a political party that aimed to represent Malaysia’s youth and disrupt the status quo. He was the head of Bersatu’s youth wing and a federal minister in Malaysia’s history before leaving the party to form MUDA. However, Syed Saddiq was accused of abetting a former official of the Bersatu party in misappropriating 0.2 Mn of party funds. In the 2022 general election, MUDA contested as part of the coalition and won just one seat. Syed Saddiq was the first politician in Malaysia to be sentenced to lashes from a cane.