We’ll consider all views, Selangor MB tells Amanah in tussle for local councils seats

(Malay Mail Online) – The Selangor government has met to discuss Parti Amanah Negara’s demand (Amanah) to be allocated two seats in each of the state’s 12 local councils, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said today in a bid to soothe ruffled feathers among political allies over their representation.

But the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman stressed that any decision on the matter must take into account the views of all parties within his administration, which could complicate matters as it would also require the consent of Amanah’s rival, PAS.

“It is a non-issue,” Azmin told reporters here when asked what he felt about Amanah’s demand.

“We have already discussed, the excos have already met last week. Whatever it is, the discussion will take into consideration the views of all parties,” he added.

Yesterday, Selangor Amanah said it hopes to have at least two representatives in each of Selangor’s 12 local councils and will submit its list of candidates to the state mentri besar’s office.

The new party has formed a pact with DAP and PKR at the federal level after breaking away from PAS, but currently holds no seats at the local government level.

Azmin said they are expected to announce the new list of local councillors before the new term begins on January 16.

The mentri besar also played down talks that his administration was split over the issue, saying this was a normal aspect in any democratic process.

“This is the democratic process. In this process we have to take into consideration all views,” he said.

Amanah said it wanted the Selangor government to appoint some of its party members as local councillors, believing the state administration should take into consideration the fact that the party holds three of the four MP seats in the state.

It is understood that PKR, DAP and PAS had just recently agreed to revise the number of local council seats allocated for each party, whereby PKR had agreed to let go of 17 seats.

There are currently 288 local council seats with 120 seats given to PKR, 92 for DAP, 67 for PAS, and nine for the Orang Besar Daerah. Under the revised allocation, PKR would get 103 seats, 98 for DAP and 78 for PAS.