Latest news with #AmiraAisya
Sinar Daily
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
'I use my own salary to fund my office' - Muda's Amira Aisya slams unequal constituency allocations
SHAH ALAM – Acting Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) President and Puteri Wangsa assemblyman Amira Aisya Abd Aziz has raised alarm over the deep financial strain faced by elected representatives, especially those in the opposition, due to what she describes as an 'unjust and outdated' system of constituency allocations. In a candid interview on Sinar Daily's Top News Live podcast, she revealed that she has had to dig into her personal salary just to keep her constituency office running. 'I have to use my own gaji (salary) to buy some of my stuff and figure out other ways to fund my office. And this is not just me, this is many other politicians out there,' she said. Amira, who represents one of the largest state constituencies in Johor with over 120,000 voters, said the RM200,000 annual allocation she receives was grossly inadequate. By comparison, she pointed out that state assemblymen in smaller constituencies with as few as 18,000 voters receive the same amount. 'My state seat is bigger than some parliamentary seats. So how is it fair that I get the same funding as someone with a fraction of my voters?' she said. Amira Aisya during Sinar Daily's Top News Live episode. Amira painted a picture of overstretched offices with underpaid staff who are expected to be on-call at all hours, often fielding emergency requests from constituents late into the night. 'They deserve to be properly compensated for the work they do. Just because we love our job and serve willingly, doesn't mean our staff should suffer. People come in with real issues and we want to help but we're scraping just to keep the lights on," she said. Amira acknowledged the resourceful methods some Member of Parliaments have used to fundraise, citing Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman as a prime example. 'Saddiq has always been very creative in how he fundraises. Many of us, especially younger politicians, see that as inspiring. But not all of us have the talent or the looks to be influencers,' she quipped. What frustrates Amira most, however, was not just the limited funding but the politicisation of those funds. She expressed deep concern over how constituency allocations were often dangled as political bargaining chips, especially when opposition representatives were excluded from receiving full support. 'Let's be clear, this allocation is not for us, it's for the rakyat (citizen). 'We're not angry about being sidelined personally. But when the people in our constituencies suffer because of political games, that's when it becomes unacceptable.' She said those in power were weaponising allocations to pressure elected representatives into toeing certain political lines. 'If you want support, then you dangle the allocation. That's not fair. This is supposed to be about governance, not manipulation,' she said. Amira Aisya talking to her constituents. (Photo from Pusat Khidmat Puteri Wangsa) Amira urged the federal and state governments to immediately review how constituency funds are distributed, calling for allocations that reflect the actual population size and needs of each area. 'It's time we rethink the formula. Representation should be equitable. Constituencies with larger populations obviously require more resources to operate efficiently,' she said. Until then, Amira said she and others in her position will continue to do the best they can with the little they have, even if it means funding public service out of their own pockets. 'We didn't come into politics for glamour. But it's exhausting to constantly have to choose between helping people and surviving the system.' Under the current allocation model, both government and opposition representatives receive the same base funding but the ruling party often receives additional support via federal or state channels. This has led to accusations of politically motivated funding disparities across the country. Fellow comrade and Muda co-founder Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has been vocal about the unfair allocation, which, according to him, has "forced" him to enter the world of "influencer" - becoming a brand ambassador, as a strategy to fund his constituency, Muar. The former youth and sports minister had previously criticised the government for unequal distribution of parliamentary funds, stating that government MPs received RM4 million each while opposition MPs like himself received none. Syed Saddiq has been collaborating with singer and actress Bella Astillah on various campaigns starting as models for traditional Malay fashion apparel for Hari Raya this year, which has catapulted his popularity and has improved his image among the mass. Amira jokingly said "Not everyone has the look to be a model to fund their constituency" but she was definitely open to the idea and welcomed any brands that wanted to collaborate with her.
Sinar Daily
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
Not Fair, Not Sustainable: The Silent Struggles of Opposition Reps
04 Jul 2025 02:00pm Not Fair, Not Sustainable: The Silent Struggles of Opposition Reps Muda Acting President and Puteri Wangsa Assemblywoman Amira Aisya Abd Aziz said many opposition politicians are struggling to serve their constituencies with limited resources. She revealed that her RM200,000 annual allocation is the same as an an assemblyman serving 18,000 voters - yet her constituency has over 120,000. Watch the full conversation on Sinar Daily's social media platforms. #AmiraAisya #PuteriWangsa #TopNewsPodcast #SinarDaily #MudaMalaysia #HakRakyat #PoliticalTransparency More Like This
Free Malaysia Today
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Even with Syed Saddiq, Muda comeback at GE 16 unlikely, say analysts
Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was acquitted of abetting corruption, misappropriation of funds and money laundering by the Court of Appeal earlier this week. PETALING JAYA : Muda is unlikely to stage a comeback in the next general election, even with Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman at the helm following his recent acquittal on corruption charges, analysts say. They say the party, founded five years ago, has missed its opportunity. Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) said Muda was at its peak in the year before the 15th general election (GE15), which was held in November 2022. 'They were hot in 2021 but now people don't seem to remember them. 'They missed the opportunity to attract voters because they lost momentum,' she told FMT. Syaza Shukri. Syaza said Muda has struggled to project a clear identity or establish its purpose. 'People don't know exactly what Muda is fighting for. Right now, it feels more like an NGO,' she said. Syaza also believes Muda suffers from an image problem, largely appearing to be a 'one-man party'. There appears to be a lack of trust in Muda's ability to become an effective third force, she added. Explaining the difference between how Muda and PKR functioned when their respective leaders were confronted with legal jeopardy, Syaza said that in PKR's case, other leaders stepped up to lead when current prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was twice incarcerated. 'Muda tried to do the same with acting president Amira (Aisya Abdul Aziz) but that has not been enough,' she added. Syed Saddiq relinquished his post at the helm of the party after he was convicted by the High Court of abetting criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of funds and money laundering. On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal unanimously acquitted the Muar MP of all charges. Muda needs veterans and an ally Azmi Hassan. Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Muda's strategy of positioning itself from the onset as a platform for disillusioned voters across the political divide, has failed to materialise. 'When Muda was first established, it was to attract younger voters, not specifically from Pakatan Harapan, but from across the board. That was their strategy,' he said when contacted by FMT. However, he noted that Muda failed to resonate with younger, disillusioned voters – particularly among the non-Malays. Azmi said the party may want to reconsider its approach to remain relevant, adding that it needs more than just young leaders. Muda needs a strong ally, he said\ – either Pakatan Harapan (PH) or Barisan Nasional (BN). However, Azmi said both coalitions may be hesitant to collaborate with Muda, fearing the party may not bring sufficient strategic value to the table. James Chin of the University of Tasmania said Syed Saddiq's acquittal presents Muda with an opportunity to rebuild its image. James Chin. 'Muda was able to attract a lot of young people, including many youths from the Chinese community. But what happened was a lot of young people moved away after Syed Saddiq was charged with corruption, including the Malays,' he said. 'Now that he has been discharged by the courts, if he goes back to working with the party, I believe he will be able to recover lost ground.' However, Chin said the party's biggest hurdle remains seat negotiations with potential allies. 'Everything will depend on how well they do. The biggest problem they face is to get PH to give them seats to contest. In the last round, they won only one seat (in Muar).' Chin said that Muda should be given a chance as Syed Saddiq is still capable of attracting young people from across all ethnic groups.
Malay Mail
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Acting president: Muda no longer weighed down by Syed Saddiq's conviction, to decide next steps after acquittal
PUTRAJAYA, June 25 — The acting president of the United Democratic Alliance (Muda), Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz, today said the party would meet later today to discuss its future. Following the acquittal of Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman on graft and corruption charges, she said they no longer needed to find a way to move forward under the weight of his conviction, and that no time had been wasted. "Syed Saddiq proved his innocence today and we're grateful. We always believed in him and that justice would prevail. We at Muda and the central committee will be meeting later today to discuss the party's future, and anything that comes up, we will inform you promptly," she told reporters when met at the Court of Appeal. Syed Saddiq remains a key figure in Muda, despite stepping down as president in 2023 following his initial conviction. On November 9, 2023, the High Court sentenced the former youth and sports minister to seven years' imprisonment, two strokes of the cane, and a RM10 million fine for the misappropriation of funds belonging to Armada. The sentence covered four charges: one for abetting criminal breach of trust involving RM1 million from Armada's funds, one for misappropriating RM120,000 from the Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise account, and two for money laundering — each involving RM50,000 transferred into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account. Today, he was acquitted by the Court of Appeal of all charges, after a three‑judge panel found that the trial judge had erred in evaluating the defence's evidence.
Free Malaysia Today
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Muda to discuss Syed Saddiq's presidency after acquittal
Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman stepped down from the Muda presidency in 2023. PUTRAJAYA : Muda will discuss Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's position in the party after the Muar MP was acquitted of corruption and money laundering charges this morning. The party's acting president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz said the party would hold a meeting later today. 'We will deliberate on the matter tonight,' she told reporters outside the Court of Appeal here. Yesterday, Amira told FMT that Syed Saddiq's future in Muda would depend on the outcome of his appeal against his conviction. She said while Syed Saddiq had not held the party's presidency since 2023, he remains a key figure in Muda due to his role as its founder and sole representative in Parliament. Syed Saddiq was convicted by the Kuala Lumpur High Court of abetting in criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of assets, and money laundering in November 2023. The former youth and sports minister was sentenced to seven years' jail, fined RM10 million, and ordered to be given two strokes of the rotan. The sentence was stayed pending his appeal. He later announced that he would temporarily step down as Muda president, adding that he would not be involved in the party's decision-making processes. Earlier this morning, the Court of Appeal ruled that Syed Saddiq should have been acquitted without his defence being called during the trial. Justice Noorin Badaruddin said the prosecution had failed to prove the ingredients of the predicate charges of abetting in CBT and dishonest misappropriation. Amira said she was happy with the court's decision, and that it proved Syed Saddiq's honesty. Syed Saddiq meanwhile said that any decision on whether he reclaims the Muda presidency would be 'made together'.
