Don't just harp on excess funds, Anwar tells Khalid

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has urged his colleague, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and the latter's Selangor state government administration to move on from talking about the state's financial health under the current administration.

"Don't just talk about excess (money) alone. What we need is efficiency and transparency now," he said during a forum on the Audit Report findings at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) civic hall last night.

Anwar (right) pointed out that the Selangor state administration has passed the "first phase", which is to establish a state government practising good governance an not riddled with power abuse power and corruption.

"We are past the first phase. But now, people want to see us start implementing," Anwar said, while urging the state to be more active in spreading out welfare aid for the needy.

"Excess funds is okay, but there are still poor people in the state, there are still youths who can't afford to get into university, there are people who need housing aid," he added.

Anwar said that he had conveyed these suggestions to the state government several times and even quipped that the progress with which these suggestions are being adapted by the state was a little slow.

"There are some areas (in state administration) that we would like to see improved, we have made suggestions, it's a little slow," he added.

Khalid, who is now serving his second term as Selangor MB, has been criticised in the past for being too prudent with state's spending, while holding back on the healthy state reserve funds accumulated during Khalid's first term as MB.

This has also drawn criticism from PKR deputy president Azmin Ali in the past, who was believed to be unhappy with Khalid while he vied for the menteri besar post as well.