PM lists five major unresolved issues in Selangor
PROBLEMS plaguing the state reflect weakness of its government, says Datuk Seri Najib Razak
SELANGOR’S WOES
WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGES
HIGH COST OF HOUSING
SKYROCKETING TAXES
UNCOLLECTED RUBBISH
POLLUTED RIVERS WHICH LEAD TO WIDESPREAD DISEASES
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday the opposition-led Selangor government has failed to address five major weaknesses in the state, among them the water problem and high cost of houses.
The other weaknesses were taxes that burdened the people, poor waste management, and failure to manage rivers, thus resulting in more cases of infectious diseases, he added.
Najib said Kelantan was under the opposition, but the state government and the Federal Government were able to manage water in that state, “but here (in Selangor), they give preference to politics, not the people”.
According to Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd, the water situation was critical in six districts where supply was weak, quality was bad, pressure was low, service was poor and there was billing confusion, he said.
“This is the sorry state of water management in the state,” he said when launching the Selangor Barisan Nasional election machinery at the Kampung Sungai Chik square here.
Present were Selangor BN chairman and Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar, MCA president and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, MIC president and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam and Wanita BN chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
Addressing about 5,000 members of the BN election machinery and Selangor BN supporters, Najib, who is BN chairman, said it was necessary to analyse and explain these five weaknesses to prevent the people from being taken in by the opposition’s promises.
He said BN would be able to solve these weaknesses if it came to power in the state.
He said the Klang Valley, which comprised Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, must be managed in an integrated manner under one government administration — a BN government.
Najib said Kuala Lumpur and Selangor could not be administered separately because many development projects — such as the Light Rail Transit, Mass Rapid Transit and East Coast Rail Link — involved the two territories.
“Selangor and Kuala Lumpur are inseparable.
“Do not think that the country can be well managed with Selangor and Kuala Lumpur administered separately. Definitely not.
“They have to be under one government, a BN government.”
He reminded Selangor BN to strengthen its resolve, cultivate determination and focus on recapturing the state in the (14th) General Election (GE14).
He said to succeed in this endeavour, BN component parties must remain united and eliminate quarrels among themselves which, according to him, were the cause of BN’s failure to recapture the state in the last general election.
“We must assume that an Umno victory is a BN victory, an MCA victory is a BN victory, an MIC victory is a BN victory and any other component party victory is a BN victory.
“Let’s not quarrel among ourselves. We must accept any representative so long as he is from BN.
“We must not boycott or sabotage any candidate. This is not the time for that. If we do so, then it will be the third time that we fail to recapture Selangor. Twice is enough,” he said.
Najib also expressed his condolences to Batang Kali assemblyman and Selangor BN deputy chairman Datuk Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan on the demise of his mother, Hadiah Shafie, 90, early yesterday.
He praised Mat Nadzari for his commitment to BN as the assemblyman attended the event despite having just lost his mother.
After launching the election machinery, he officiated at the pre-launch of the Selangor BN manifesto for GE14 and attended a “Jamuan Rakyat” feast for members of the election machinery and party supporters.