Bantuan Belia: Zahid slams Syed Saddiq's accusations

KOTA BHARU - Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has slammed Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and emphasises the importance of providing adequate funding for the youth to engage in various activities.

Zahid said giving out aids was not akin to 'normalising corruption', as claimed by the Malaysian Democratic Alliance (Muda) president.

"He (Syed Saddiq) can talk about anything he deems essential. But the youth needs sufficient allocations for them to carry out activities.

"Whether it's youth associations at the district or state level, not to mention the Malaysian Youth Council," he told a press conference, today, after attending the launch of the unity government's election machinery for its Kota Bharu component parties at the Kelantan Umno office.

Earlier, Syed Saddiq accused the Deputy Prime Minister of offering 'sweeteners' in return for votes for the upcoming state elections.

In a tweet, he said Zahid's actions were 'just the normalisation of corruption'.

He was referring to a speech Zahid made to voters in Terengganu yesterday, in which he announced an additional grant of RM100,000 for Terengganu youth, RM250,000 in aid for the Terengganu Malaysia Youth Council, and RM200,000 for a motoring association in the state.

Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister said the amount may increase depending on the group's performance in the state polls on Aug 12.

Taking a jab at Syed Saddiq, Zahid said: "Syed Saddiq's party may face a similar outcome to a party that previously contested and could not recover its deposit."