The Star Malaysia

‘New exco line-up must have integrity’

- By WANI MUTHIAH wani@thestar.com.my

KLANG: The new Selangor exco members should be selected from those who understand the importance of accountabi­lity and integrity, says political analyst Prof Dr Sivamuruga­n Pandian.

Such matters are crucial and are in accordance with the values espoused by the Selangor government since 2008.

He said the onus is on Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali to reject those named by Pakatan Harapan parties if the proposed candidates did not meet these criteria.

“Azmin needs a suitable team to work with him to deliver the people’s aspiration­s,” he said in an interview yesterday.

Prof Sivamuruga­n said the Selangor government will be closely watched by voters who had given Pakatan a landslide victory in the state.

Former Selangor state secretary Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi said the exco members must also be able to have a good working relationsh­ip with the state’s civil servants.

“If they are not able to do that, then whatever policies formulated by the state government cannot be implemente­d effectivel­y,” he said.

The 10 executive councillor­s – four from PKR, three from DAP, two from Amanah and one from Pribumi – will be sworn in before Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddi­n Idris Shah today.

Selangor Amanah chief Izham Hashim and Selat Kelang assemblyma­n Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, who is state Pribumi chairman, are on the exco list.

It is not known if DAP veteran Datuk Teng Chang Khim will be retained as exco member in charge of Investment and Industry.

During the past five years, he had played a pivotal role in strengthen­ing Selangor’s economy.

A grassroots DAP leader from Klang felt that Teng, who is Bandar Baru Klang assemblyma­n, is respected by the state’s business players and the Selangor civil servants due to his dedication.

According to him, another deserving exco member is fourterm Sekinchan assemblyma­n Ng Suee Lim, who had helped to turn the sleepy hollow into a tourist attraction.

However, party insiders said Kinrara DAP’s Ng Sze Han will be one of the three DAP members to be sworn in today.

As for PKR, sources said only Sungai Tua assemblyma­n Amirudin Shari will be retained in the exco lineup.

He used to helm the Youth Generation Developmen­t, Sports, Cultural and Entreprene­urship Developmen­t portfolio.

Another possible exco candidate is Sentosa assemblyma­n Gunaraj George, who has a good track record as a social worker for over two decades.

His experience will be in good stead in resolving issues such as land matters in Kampung Sungai Yu, Kuala Selangor, that required immediate attention.

Recently, a group of residents from the village claimed that they did not receive land that should have rightfully been given to them.

Since the disgruntle­d community is mostly made up of rural Indians, it is crucial to have a suitable Indian exco member to reach out to them and help diffuse their disenchant­ment with the state government.

If they are not able to do that (have good working relationsh­ip with civil servants), then whatever policies formulated by the state government cannot be implemente­d effectivel­y.

Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi

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