Calm and sensible MB
WHEN Datuk Seri Azmin Ali was appointed as Economics Affairs Minister after Pakatan Harapan formed the federal government in May, the responsibility of heading Selangor fell on the shoulders of Sungai Tua assemblyman Amirudin Shari.
Amirudin, 38, accepted the challenge and became the illustrious state’s 16th Mentri Besar.
A three-term assemblyman, he has taken the task of administrating the state in his stride and managed to handle some difficult issues in the seven months he has held the position.
Among those issues were the necessary changes made to the state constitution to amend the marriageable age for Muslims in Selangor from 16 to 18.
Selangor made the change following the outcry over the marriage of a 41-year-old man from Kelantan to an 11-year-old child earlier this year.
“Selangor takes a serious view of the girl’s recent marriage to a 41-year-old man in south Thailand,” Amirudin had said when tabling the motion to amend the required legislation in the state assembly in early September.
Currently, the Mentri Besar is facing a challenging situation in Selangor in regards to the conflict revolving around the Seafield Maha Mariaman Temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya.
Refusing to be daunted by the turn of events that had led to riots at the temple vicinity, Amirudin has taken a level-headed approach to handling the matter.
While assuring that the state government will be the mediator in helping both the temple management and the landowners reach an amicable solution, Amirudin also issued a stern warning that there must not be any uprising.
“The state government cautions the parties involved to remain calm, not to hold any assembly, refrain from making any forms of provocative statements and adhere to orders by the police to maintain peace and public order,” Amirudin said.
Amirudin also gave his word that the temple would not be demolished or subject to any legal action until an amicable solution was reached. So far, he seems to be sailing through his baptism of fire as Selangor state administration’s top executive.
And when Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah convenes the 2019 state legislative assembly sitting in March next year, there is a high chance that he will give credit to Amirudin where it is due.