SELANGOR Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari reportedly brushed off Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s claims that Kedah would have taken the nation’s top spot for foreign investment if Kuala Lumpur and Selangor did not exist.
Scoffing at this claim, Amirudin, who is also Gombak MP, expressed hope that the northern state would transform itself drastically.
“Perhaps, it will become like New York and Washington DC one day. I pray for its success,” he was quoted as saying.
Sanusi had claimed on Sunday (Feb 18) that Kedah would be tops for foreign investments in the country if Kuala Lumpur and Selangor did not exist.
“Those places have already progressed and Selangor’s progress is because of Kuala Lumpur. Without those two, Kedah would be number one in terms of investment,” the Kedah MB was reported as saying by FMT.
This is not the first time Sanusi had made such claims, having said in July last year that Kedah could be more developed than Selangor if it was located next to Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, Amirudin also said that PAS’ ambition to take over the state government in the next general election is impractical.
He reportedly said that other parties and coalitions have attempted the same but had failed to do so since Pakatan Harapan (PH) won in 2008, including its partner in the unity government coalition Barisan Nasional (BN).
“BN had the same goal when they were our foes, but thankfully we managed to defend the state. Now, with BN and PH (as allies), we have control of Selangor,” Amirudin said after officiating at a forum on global warming in Petaling Jaya on Wednesday night (Feb 21).
PH ended BN’s administration in Selangor in 2008, and has remained in power since.
Currently, the PH and BN alliance hold 34 of the 56 seats in the state assembly.
Last Sunday (Feb 18), it was reported that PAS is banking on a “PAS for all” campaign, last used two decades ago, in hopes of winning power in Selangor at the next state polls
Selangor PAS information chief Zurk Ahmad said the state chapter was confident that Selangor would become more prosperous and able to provide more job opportunities when the state is run by leaders from various communities.
Zurk said Selangor PAS has made several pledges at its recently concluded retreat, including transforming Selangor into an economically competitive state, ensuring corruption-free politics, and improving the utilisation of resources.
“PAS for all” was a popular slogan in the days of spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat, when the party was part of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, which gained power in five states in the 2008 general election. The campaign fell into disuse after his death in 2015. – Feb 22, 2024
Main pic credit: Bernama
