Help for S’gor MB to tackle issues

Move to appoint officers on Chinese and Indian affairs

PKR’s political bureau wants two special officers to be appointed to assist and advise the Mentri Besar on Chinese and Indian issues.

The main purpose of the move is to enable the public to raise their issues and problems effectively to the state leadership, said the party’s political bureau member William Leong.

“Some people would be more comfortable speaking and relaying their problems in their own languages. That is why we want this,” said Leong.

He said ensuring that everyone’s complaints and views were heard, was in line with PKR’s political philosophy of being a multi-racial party.

He said the bureau had also suggested that a similar approach be adopted by all its state assemblymen and MP’s service centres.

“This has to be implemented at all levels – from the bottom to the top which is the Mentri Besar’s office,” said William.

Council of Professors political cluster head Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak said the move was necessary as the bulk of support for PKR came from the non-Malays as the Malay community was divided in its political choice and support.

“PKR’s biggest Malay support used to come from PAS and its supporters but the recent turn of events may have changed that,” said Dr Mohamed Mustafa.

He added the move to install Chinese and Indian affairs officers in the Mentri Besar’s office might help PKR to strengthen its non-Malay support in Selangor in time for the next general election.

Assoc Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Social Sciences said the move could enable Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali to receive first hand information on Indian and Chinese related issues.

“It will also allow the Mentri Besar’s office to do more for the people, especially if elected representatives do not fulfil certain needs of their Chinese and Indian constituents,” he added.