Kisah 2 pemimpin muda

Two young leaders prepared to face the spotlight ahead of the PRN Melaka election. While neither aspired to become a state chief minister, Adam Adli of PKR and Dr Akmal Saleh of Umno could serve as symbols of their respective parties' future generations. Adam displayed a progressive and inclusive approach, steadfast in his principles.

Once a detained student leader facing pressure from the previous government, he later joined a multi-ethnic party and moved from PKR Youth head to the Deputy Minister of Higher Education after winning the Hang Tuah Jaya parliamentary seat. Despite frequent criticism over his failure to cancel PTPTN loans, I observed his efforts to ensure national development benefits reached less fortunate groups.

In contrast, Akmal from Umno, known for his hardline and confrontational style, differed only by a year in age. Nevertheless, his political approach sparked controversy. For me, Akmal's political record is marred by controversies. However, this approach might hold appeal for certain groups, including those worried about halal certification requirements.

Last week, Akmal was once again defeated in a defamation suit when the High Court in Melaka ruled in favor of Teresa Kok after her September 2024 statement criticizing the proposal to make halal-certified food mandatory. Kok was awarded RM250,000 in compensation, plus RM50,000 in legal costs. Akmal previously identified as a Nyonya matriarch and proposed that non-halal logos be removed from her.

Now, Akmal says he is willing to relinquish the opportunity to retain the DUN Merlimau seat in the PRN Melaka on November 14 if the court case against him related to Section 505(b) of the Sedition Act elevates Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) chances. He was charged with making statements via Facebook that allegedly caused public fear or alarm or disrupted public order, involving videos and posts around August 11, 2025, about the upside-down Malaysian flag incident.

Akmal stated he had communicated his position to Umno President Zahid Hamidi, emphasizing that party interests should take precedence over personal ambitions. However, this is merely the latest controversy involving a politician positioning himself as a champion of a specific cause. Earlier, Akmal faced defamation suits initiated by his siblings.

In 2024, he urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to remove Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Tiong King Sing following the recognition of his dish, Ketupat King Sing, as a national heritage food. Throughout 2024, Akmal's controversies included criticizing a vernacular school and a statement suggesting P Ramasamy, his counterpart, was drunk.

He also led a boycott campaign against KK Mart after discovering the word "Allah" prominently displayed in its chain of general stores. Whether such political approaches benefit or harm is up to the reader to decide. Adam, on the other hand, chose a more subdued approach to build consensus. His concern for all Malaysians does not diminish his Malay or Islamic identity.

In fact, such reactions are a common mistake in Malaysian society. Throughout his tenure in the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Adam championed initiatives benefiting the public, such as easing PTPTN loan repayments. Under the 2027 budget plan, borrowers earning between RM2,501 and RM3,000 per month are required to pay a minimum of RM50 monthly, while those earning less than RM2,500 per month qualify for exemption.

Other initiatives include My50 and MyKomuter50 subsidies for inter-state travels and a RM500 FlySiswa subsidy for students commuting between the Peninsula, Sabah, and Sarawak. Adam also promoted vocational and technical education to improve graduates' employability and supported the revival of the Rakan Muda program for youth development.

He also participated in infrastructure and welfare projects in Hang Tuah Jaya, including flood mitigation efforts. Most importantly, he approached the future with an open mind and compassion for others. Young leader Adam Adli is a former editor now serving as strategic communications strategist to the Ministry of Communications. This article reflects the author's opinion and does not necessarily represent FMT.