The 25-year-old Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, the youngest ever minister in the country, signifies the emergence of a free and open voice of the youth, a reformation by itself.

The appointment of Syed Saddiq as youth and sports minister today paved the way for young people in the country to play a role in government administration.

Syed Saddiq, a first-time MP, a young debater with a solid education background in law and a depth of knowledge, now has on his shoulders a big responsibility in taking care of a very vital ministry in the country.

How he handles the challenges ahead will determine his sustainability as a young politician in his bid to see changes in policies and lead the youth into the direction of a new Malaysia.

PKR vice-president Tian Chua has called on the Muar MP to be mindful of the pitfalls awaiting him as he began his new job as youth and sports minister.

“The Youth and Sports Ministry is just like any other ministries, you need to deal with adults.

“He (Syed Saddiq) is dealing with a ministry that deals with youth affairs, but he must also remember that he is dealing with a very nasty and corrupted world of sports,” Tian Chua told Bernama.

In this regard, Tian Chua advised Syed Saddiq to avoid being naive and not to allow himself to be conned or corrupted in his role as a minister.

“He has to be very vigilant and to know how to handle matters part of his capacity as minister,” he added.

Tian Chua also acknowledged that the generation gap in the new government would certainly pose another challenge to Syed Saddiq.

“He may face some challenges to convey his opinion and thoughts to the older generation in the cabinet, but at the same time, the government can benefit from his fresh ideas, youthfulness and unconventional thinking,” he said.

Tian Chua said Syed Saddiq should also absorb the ideas from the older generation in the cabinet, but at the same time maintain his idealism and find ways to transform them into reality.

Meanwhile, MIC Youth chief Sivarraajh Chandran when contacted said the appointment of Syed Saddiq as the youngest minister would have been impossible under the previous BN government.

“I don’t think this would happen under BN, that is for a 25-year-old to become a minister. So, I congratulate him on his appointment as a good note for young people to be given an opportunity in public governance,’’ he said.

Johor-born Syed Saddiq was sworn in as the 18th youth and sports minister today at the Istana Negara, along with another 12 ministers and 23 deputy ministers.

- Bernama