On November 9, 2023, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, a 30-year-old Member of Parliament from Muar, was sentenced to seven years in jail, received two strokes of the cane, and was fined US$2.9 million after being found guilty on all charges of abetting in criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of funds, and money laundering. Notably, Syed Saddiq is the first politician to face corporal punishment for corruption.

To read in detail, click here https://www.fcctimes.com/2023/11/09/former-malaysian-mp-syed-saddiq-sentenced-to-7-years-in-landmark-corruption-case-appeals-pending-despite-stay-of-execution/

Previously, he served as the Minister of Youth and Sports in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration from July 2018 to February 2020. As a founding member of the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA), he held the position of 1st President of MUDA from September 2020. However, in response to the court’s decision, he stepped down from the presidency.

The charges against Syed Saddiq involve allegations of abetting the misappropriation of US$0.2 million from Armada’s funds, with the criminal breach of trust occurring at the KL Sentral CIMB Bank branch on March 6, 2020. Additionally, he faces accusations of personally misappropriating US$25,000 from Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise’s Maybank Islamic account between April 8 and 21 in 2018. Furthermore, two counts of money laundering, involving US$10,000 each, are linked to transactions from his Maybank Islamic account to his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account in Johor Bahru on June 16 and 19 in 2018.