At twenty-five, Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman has accomplished something that literally nobody in South-East Asia has done in modern times – become the youngest-ever minister. The Johor-born Syed will serve as the 18th Youth and Sports Minister under the new Pakatan Harapan government in Malaysia, reports The Straits Times. Rahman told Bloomberg that Malaysia is “very serious” about its decision to reduce the voting age to 18 before the elections in 2023. He added that if this were to happen, around 3.7 million additional voters would be allowed to vote.

“That means the youth voter block becomes bigger and stronger, and therefore, they cannot be sidelined in the Malaysian political scene anymore,” Saddiq told Bloomberg.

Even though Rahman is the youngest in the new cabinet, he knows exactly what the voters want. “The youth care about two primary issues. One is about bread and butter issues, which is cost of living, affordable housing, good employment opportunities, and quality of life,” he told the news website.

Showcasing a strong liberal spirit, Rahman also believes that power should be returned to the people and he aims to open up more democratic spaces where the youth can raise their voice about issues that matter to them.

Also, it is imperative that we mention that Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman has over one million followers on Instagram. Apart from all the good work that he is doing, South-East Asia’s youngest minister really knows how to work a fade haircut. What was that about beauty and brains, again?

“Almost everything I do, including what I wear, will be scrutinized,” Saddiq told Bloomberg. “But I don’t see that as a liability. While the limelight can crush a person, that limelight can also be translated into positive vibes and energy. If we succeed, we will set a new precedent that appointing young ministers is not bad.

(Picture credits: @syedsaddiq on Instagram)