New Selangor opposition leader unfazed in entering the lions’ den

The recently concluded 14th general election has truly changed the life of 37-year-old Rizam Ismail after he was elected as BN's Sungai Tawar assemblyperson.

Rizam told Malaysiakini in an interview that it never crossed his mind that he would win the Selangor state seat, let alone be nominated to lead the opposition bench comprising three other Umno assemblypersons and one from PAS.

"When entrusted with the responsibility, I feel compelled to take it up as one way to fight for the people [...]

"I seek support and I'm willing to accept criticisms so that I can be a credible opposition leader," he pledged.

Harapan retained Selangor in GE14 with a supermajority of 51 out of 56 state seats, reducing BN's representation from 12 assemblypersons to only four and decimating PAS from 15 assemblypersons to just a single representative.

Clad in an orange batik shirt, Rizam revealed that his biggest challenge would be to ensure that the opposition's voice continues to be heard as a part of the check and balance process.

"We will put pressure and give our input to benefit the people. The state assembly is a platform to debate [...]

"We can also raise matters outside of the assembly. Umno can work together with NGOs and any other parties that protect the rakyat," he said.

"Although our numbers are small, I will still stand firm in the state assembly as a credible opposition to ensure that the sanctity of religion, the sovereignty of the rulers and the people's welfare is taken care of.

“Just because the new government has obtained a huge mandate, we don't want them to turn lackadaisical," he said.

'Foreign investment dropping'

According to census data, Selangor is the most populated state in Malaysia with 19.9 percent of the country's total population of 31.7 million citizens.

Rizam said a top priority in his first 100 days after taking office would be to ensure that issues affecting Selangor households would be raised at the upcoming state assembly sitting.

Aside from that, the political science graduate from the Open University of Malaysia also said he would be looking to include youth unemployment and steps taken by the state government to increase Selangor's income.

"Today we see a drop in the number of investors and this raises concern that the state government will be forced to tax local businesses more or raise land premiums, thus burdening the people.

"That is why we need a stable government that is respected by the people for its strength so we can see more investors coming in and opening up more job opportunities for youths in Selangor," he said.

Together with the four other opposition representatives, Rizam said they would pressure the Harapan government to fulfil their GE14 manifesto at the state level.

"The main issue now is that the state government cannot fulfil its promises and we are losing foreign investors.

"This loss is more dangerous and our country could go bankrupt because of PKR instead of 1MDB," he said.

"The rakyat must realise this and if they want the promises to be fulfilled, they should support us to be a strong opposition," he argued.

The Selangor state opposition chief's position has been vacant since December 2014 following the resignation of BN's Sungai Burong assemblyperson Mohd Shamsudin Lias.

Shamsudin tendered his resignation to former Selangor speaker Hannah Yeoh after he repeatedly refused to take up the state Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson's post. -Mkini