Don’t run Selangor like a business, DAP tells new MB Azmin
(Malay Mail Online) – DAP’s Selangor chapter repeated its national leadership’s support for newly-installed Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali today but cautioned the PKR leader against running the state administration like a business venture.
The chapter said the new state administration must take the nation’s richer state to greater heights without dipping its fingers in profit-making endeavours but by creating the most conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
A restructuring exercise is necessary to return focus to issues allegedly neglected by the previous administration under Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, such as affordable housing and better transportation infrastructure, Selangor DAP chairman Tony Pua said.
“We hope that under Azmin’s leadership, the government will steer away from getting ensnared in operating businesses. It is not the business of government to be in the business of making profits.
“We believe that if the new administration is able to achieve the above in the next three years, the certainly Azmin Ali will go into history as the best Menteri Besar Selangor has ever had,” Pua said in a statement.
The Petaling Jaya Utara MP said the new government must adhere to the highest standards of accountability and transparency by implementing policies such as fully competitive tenders and disclosure of assets.
In addition, he said Azmin’s government must also have zero-tolerance for corruption and cronyism by punishing guilty offenders, and promoting clean and competent individuals.
Pua also urged the elected representatives, councillors and civil servants, particularly in the local councils, to listen to public opinion.
“As an administration which opposes the abuse of power and clamp down of civil liberties by the Barisan Nasional federal government, Selangor must prove itself to be a beacon of hope by actively implementing our democratisation policies,” said the Petaling Jaya Utara MP.
The chapter also said it looks forward to the new executive councillors led by Azmin, which should be “more consultative, inclusive and people-centric”
“We believe that by working as a team, Azmin Ali will be able to take Selangor to greater heights by making it the best-run state in the country,” he added.
PKR deputy president Azmin, who was sworn in this morning as Selangor’s 15th mentri besar, takes over from Khalid who had held the post for more than six years from 2008 today,
Azmin’s appointment puts an end to a protracted crisis which has pitted Pakatan Rakyat (PR) allies PKR, DAP and PAS against one another.
Khalid’s administration has been long been criticised as “stingy” by his critics, especially those aligned to Azmin.
Before politics, Khalid was a technocrat who made his name through the corporate world, heading, among others, state fund manager Permodalan Nasional Bhd and Guthrie Group Bhd.
Azmin, 50, who is Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman and Gombak MP, was sworn in before the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, at the Throne Room of the Istana Alam Shah at 10.42 am this morning.
