'Not impossible' for Wan Fayhsal to be next Anwar - academic
Published: Jul 26, 2024 10:34 AM
While certain parties have often ridiculed Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal for his views, an academic on the other hand sees great potential in the figure of the Bersatu Youth leader.
In the eyes of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) political science professor, Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid, he does not rule out the possibility that Wan Fayhsal can go further and be significant in politics.
He said there are some quality characteristics in Wan Fayhsal such as high spirit, outspokenness and concern for the plight of Muslims abroad.
“It is not impossible that Wan Fayhsal could be the next Anwar Ibrahim,” the lecturer told Malaysiakini yesterday.
Fauzi added that he saw an amazing intellectual spirit in the Machang MP.
“He is able to read and analyse great works from world thinkers, plus he is a student of the Malay-Muslim thinker, Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas,” he said.
Fauzi said the last time he saw a young leader with great potential was when Anwar was young.
He said Wan Fayhsal’s young blood and fiery spirit reminded him of Anwar as a young student activist decades ago.
Wan Fayhsal hogged the spotlight recently after he was suspended from attending the Dewan Rakyat session for six months.
Before that, he emerged as a staunch critic on the issue of the sale of Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) shares to Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), including through a letter brought to the Dewan Rakyat.
‘Grassroots yet to understand’
The action saw Wan Fayhsal being branded by certain quarters as a “hero” who spoke out for the interests of Muslims, while the government was seen as suppressing his voice.
However, this is not the first time that the 37-year-old politician has garnered much public attention.
Previously he had been ridiculed or praised for proposing that the country print more money as one way of dealing with the debt issue.
According to him, by printing more money it can then be given to the public to spend.
For the record, Wan Fayhsal was then the deputy youth and sports minister.
In August 2020 - also when he was in government - Wan Fayhsal’s name was mentioned when a video recording went viral showing him offering a letter of support in return for the vote given to him in the Bersatu election.
He was then trying to win the position of Bersatu Youth leader.
According to Fauzi, with the qualities that the young politician has, Perikatan Nasional and Bersatu should take advantage of his intellectual side to give them added value.
“I think the PN grassroots still does not understand Wan Fayhsal’s thinking.
“Perhaps he himself is not yet able to communicate what is in his mind to them,” he said.
Competing with Akmal
Fauzi also believes that Wan Fayhsal can be a good leader if he is able to mature.
“I admit that Wan Fayhsal sometimes gets emotional and flustered, but what is the difference between Anwar and him when he was young?” he asked.
Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh
Ilham Centre’s executive director Hisommudin Bakar said the support of the Malays for Wan Fayhsal was more about the movement to reject the government, not because of his stature and intellect.😂😂😂
“Because the opposition (PN) won the Malay vote, then whatever ‘echo’ comes from that figure, it will be welcomed,” he told Malaysiakini.
Hisommudin also added that the trend of attacking the government through TikTok is still dominant as a result of the effectiveness of the opposition making good use of the platform.
“Performing with creativity in the form of songs, dikir barat, influencers and memes indirectly caused the audience to forget PN’s performance when they were the government,” he said.
Universiti Malaya Political Science Department lecturer Mohamad Tawfik Yaakub sees PN as needing Wan Fayhsal to compete with Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, who portrays himself as a “Malay champion”.
“PN was challenged when Umno started championing the issue of the Malays through Akmal.
“That’s why Wan Fayhsal’s Malay character had to be highlighted,” he said.
Ilham Centre’s executive director Hisommudin Bakar said the support of the Malays for Wan Fayhsal was more about the movement to reject the government, not because of his stature and intellect.😂😂😂
“Because the opposition (PN) won the Malay vote, then whatever ‘echo’ comes from that figure, it will be welcomed,” he told Malaysiakini.
Hisommudin also added that the trend of attacking the government through TikTok is still dominant as a result of the effectiveness of the opposition making good use of the platform.
“Performing with creativity in the form of songs, dikir barat, influencers and memes indirectly caused the audience to forget PN’s performance when they were the government,” he said.
Universiti Malaya Political Science Department lecturer Mohamad Tawfik Yaakub sees PN as needing Wan Fayhsal to compete with Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, who portrays himself as a “Malay champion”.
“PN was challenged when Umno started championing the issue of the Malays through Akmal.
“That’s why Wan Fayhsal’s Malay character had to be highlighted,” he said.
All useless parasitic vermin
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