Harapan makes way for Umno at 'one or two' Selangor seats - Amirudin

Pakatan Harapan has agreed to make way for BN in several of its seats for the upcoming Selangor state election, according to Amirudin Shari.

Speaking in a radio interview aired this morning, the Selangor Harapan chairperson said it was done in the spirit of unity but stopped short of giving specifics except that it involves “one or two seats”.

“Definitely, we have to give in the spirit of unity. (But) I am not in a position to answer this. The chairperson of the unity government coalition will announce it (the list of candidates).

“We gave up what we considered for each party before in the 14th general election... definitely, the seats that were won by Bersatu when it contested under the PKR flag.

“And one or two (of Harapan seats) to Umno in the spirit of unity,” he told the interview on the ‘Breakfast Grille’ segment of BFM radio.

A half-baked list

Amirudin, who is the caretaker Selangor menteri besar, also played coy about the list of Harapan-BN candidates for Selangor when asked by the programme host whether there will be some surprises.

The Sungai Tua state assemblyperson claimed he had not seen the list of candidates, adding that Selangor Harapan only submitted its proposal to the coalition’s central leadership based on nominations from divisions.

“It’s purely a Harapan and Umno list. But I haven’t seen it yet. We are going to have a meeting on July 16.

“Yes, (we submitted) a proposal, but it is still a half-baked list. I cannot declare, I cannot comment on the list.

“Definitely, the president has a say, our national election director Rafizi (Ramli) has a say. We only compiled nominations from the division level,” he said.

Nothing new

Amirudin also took a swipe at the opposition Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) “Selangor Baharu” (A new Selangor) slogan.

He told BFM that there is nothing new with what PN is offering, especially with its plan to feature some former Umno leaders.

“It is not ‘baru’ or a change in leadership. For me, the propaganda of Selangor Baharu is just a recycle,” Amirudin said, adding that he, however, is not taking PN’s challenge for granted.

According to the menteri besar, Harapan and BN still have to tackle the issue of the transfer of votes between the two parties, which used to be arch rivals.

A number of surveys carried out showed that Harapan supporters were more keen to throw their support behind BN candidates, he said, but the number of undecided groups was still high the other way around.

“... I think we have to explain to our machinery, keep explaining to the voters how important unity is and to be in line with the federal government for economic recovery.”

Getting rid of ‘little Napoleons’

Meanwhile, Amirudin was also asked by the host on Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s criticism that Selangor was only doing well economically due to its proximity to Kuala Lumpur.

To this, the Selangor menteri besar said while Sanusi was perhaps trying to send a message to him, the remark had also indirectly denied the contributions of other former Selangor menteri besar.

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor

This includes his predecessor Azmin Ali, who is now Selangor PN chief and an ally to Sanusi.

“If Azmin clapped his hands in his (Sanusi) ceramah, I think he also tried to deny his contributions too,” Amirudin quipped.

Asked on local council elections, the menteri besar indicated that he wants to bring back the system in Selangor “when the time comes”.

However, he said, elections are not the only solution in carrying out much-needed reforms in local governments.

The menteri besar said local authorities need a full reform agenda, including clearing “little Napoleons” who have been in their positions for decades.

“The issue now is not changing councillors or heads of councils, but the heads of departments and local council officers who have been there for some 30 or 40 years.

“They are hired by the respective local councils. Therefore, we can’t transfer them from one local council to another.

“We have been changing the head of local councils. The councillors also keep on changing. Council presidents and secretaries also keep changing, but the heads of departments, they stay.

“Therefore, there is a need for a reform of structure, including in how we hire,” he said. - Mkini