Selangor MB's aide lambasts Hilman over claims of Amirudin's poor leadership

Amirudin Shari’s aide has lambasted Selangor Perikatan Nasional (PN) secretary Muhammad Hilman Idham over claims that the state menteri besar has been performing poorly since helming the position.

Jay Jay Denis hit back at Hilman (above), saying that the latter’s lack of comprehension of basic economic fundamentals is demonstrated by his attempt to pluck numbers out of thin air and asking Amirudin to look into the mirror.

The Gombak Setia assemblyperson must first acknowledge one undisputed fact - Selangor is not only the mirror but the leader of the country’s success, Jay Jay added.

“When Selangor’s economy does well, Malaysia does well. In turn, when the economy in Selangor experiences a slowdown, Malaysia’s economy will suffer too.

“This is what we saw during the Covid-19 lockdowns for nearly two years due to haphazard decision-making, of which Hilman and his boss (Senior Minister Azmin Ali) must take some responsibility too,” he said in a statement today.

This comes after Hilman, who was Azmin’s former political secretary, claimed that Selangor’s growth had declined since 2018, even before the pandemic.

Azmin had also earlier made the same allegation.

Hilman said Amirudin’s earlier statement claiming that Selangor performed far better under his leadership than that of Azmin, was a “joke among those living in the state”.

To this, Jay Jay said under Amirudin’s administration, the state has performed consistently, growing at an annual rate of 6.8 percent in 2018 and 2019 before the Covid-19-induced economic decline.

Selangor MB Amirudin Shari

He added that when Azmin took over the reins in 2014, the state grew by 6.7 percent largely due to the efforts of his predecessor.

“The Selangor administration under Azmin posted a smaller growth rate every year until 2017, 5.7 percent in 2015 and 4.8 percent in 2016 and only surpassed the 2014 figures in 2017.”

Selangor Plan

Jay Jay also took a swipe at Hilman for not attending the legislative session in full when the first Selangor Plan was tabled and passed unanimously on Aug 2.

“He would have been able to better understand Selangor’s growth targets under the first-ever economic plan by any state.

“While the 30 percent contribution by Selangor to the national GDP in time for 2025 is lofty, it isn’t without basis.

“The establishment of new business districts outside Klang Valley, namely the Integrated Development Region in South Selangor, Sabak Bernam Development Area, and the Selangor Maritime Gateway, is slated to increase Selangor’s economic performance by creating new jobs while tackling food security, education, housing, climate change, and sustainability,” he said.

“Without an effort like the Selangor Plan, the state posts an annual increase of between 0.3 percent and 0.5 percent. That means Selangor will be on track to contribute between 25.8 percent and 26.8 percent without a concerted economic plan,” he added.

Jay Jay expressed disappointment at Hilman for choosing to swipe below the belt instead of finding ways to develop the state further.

“This mob-like mentality goes to show how a group of people who were once well respected in society, now live in denial after being the architects of treachery, and who will have their names forever etched in national shame, thrown into the dustbin of history not too long from now,” he said. - Mkini