Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman did the right thing in stepping down as Muda president until he can clear his name in court. He is still an MP, and, hopefully, will continue to raise issues of concern to the people in the Dewan Rakyat.

Found guilty of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM1.12 million of Bersatu Youth funds by the High Court, he was sentenced to seven years’ jail, two strokes of the rotan and an RM10m fine. To many, it is a disproportionate sentence to the crime. The sentence, however, has been stayed pending his appeal.

This up-and-coming young politician with a promising future has been brutally thrown off course by vengeful politics. Until his case is disposed of, he will be facing an uncertain future. Right now, understandably, he may be feeling down in the dumps, thinking what’s ahead is the daunting wilderness.

It may be the wilderness he is going to have to walk through but he does not have to wallow in it in despair. Others have had to walk through the wilderness, too. And many came out of it stronger and better people.

No doubt some never made it through; some made it only to lose themselves never to find the mental balance so necessary to live.

But, Syed Saddiq, isn’t one of them. He’s a winner, who has come through so far, and, if he finds his way through and out of the wilderness experience, he is going to go further than he can dream of. When that happens, my only hope is that he will be an example of a leader who others will want to follow.

If by chance, he reads this article, I have a few words of encouragement for him. Firstly, walk, one step at a time. Never stop to wallow but to rest, recover and recreate and then, walk.

Secondly, while walking do a little soul-searching. Where did I go wrong? What could I have done better? Be determined to do better the next time.

Thirdly, explore. What options do I have? What skills can I develop? Take the time available to study the federal constitution and become familiar with it and the principles it espouses. So that when the time comes to represent the people again, you will serve confidently knowing that you are operating within the rule of law. Don’t be like the politicians of the day, willing to compromise the mandate of the people for power and money.

Lastly, don’t walk alone. In essence, we always walk alone. But, along the way, be open to people who extend a hand a friendship, and if they would like to, let them walk with you. It will be an enriching experience for both.

The wilderness may be for a short or long time. No matter how long it is, the barrenness of it demands something from us to add colour to it. In doing so, we become people who can impact our world.

Sometime in the near future, the people will be expecting Syed Saddiq back. When that happens, hopefully, Malaysia will be glad that one of her sons is back where he should be.