I want to focus on building a family first, says former Malaysian minister Syed Saddiq

Malaysia's former youth and sports minister, Syed Saddiq Syed Abd Rahman, announced he is stepping back from the political frontline to prioritize building a family. The Muar Member of Parliament shared his decision on July 19, stating that after more than a decade of continuous political work, he feels it is time to focus on his personal life.

"To be honest, right now I want to focus on starting my own family," Syed Saddiq said at the Muar Parliamentary Service Centre. He noted that his family has also endured the pressures of his political career since he entered politics around 2014. The 33-year-old politician recently became engaged to actress and singer Bella Astillah on March 28.

Despite his shift in focus, Syed Saddiq assured his constituents that he would not neglect his public duties. He pledged to continue serving the people of Muar and remain an active member of the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) party until the dissolution of Parliament. He expressed confidence in MUDA's current leadership under Amira Aisya Abd Aziz.

“

To be honest, right now I want to focus on starting my own family.

This personal announcement comes after a significant legal victory for Syed Saddiq. On July 13, Malaysia's Federal Court upheld his acquittal on corruption charges, dismissing the prosecution's final appeal. He had been accused of embezzling and laundering RM1.12 million in campaign funds from his former party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, allegations he maintained were politically motivated. He was initially convicted in November 2023, but the Court of Appeal overturned the verdict in June 2025, a decision now finalized by the Federal Court.

Syed Saddiq rose to prominence as a young leader, winning his first parliamentary seat at 25 in 2018 and becoming the country's youngest minister that same year. He founded MUDA in 2020. He had previously stepped down as MUDA president in 2023 following his conviction, citing principle and a desire to protect the party's reputation.

“

Since I entered politics around 2014, I haven’t stopped. It wasn’t just me going through it; my family went through it too.