Azmin bids farewell to civil staff in S’gor
Outgoing MB also announces Raya ‘bonus’
SHAH ALAM: As Selangor inches closer to the unveiling of a new man at the top, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali bade a fond farewell to the state’s 17,109 civil servants with a Shakespearean quote.
“My ties with the state’s civil servants are not just official but are of love and affection ... like Brutus telling his wife Portia, ‘You are as dear to me as the ruddy drops, that visit my sad heart’,” Azmin said in his speech, referencing Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.
Azmin, who was mobbed and given a rock star reception, also brought cheer to the civil servants when he announced a one-month salary as special Hari Raya payment, while employees of federal agencies and departments in the state will receive RM1,000 each.
Azmin is giving up his second term as the state’s top executive to become the Economic Affairs Minister in the Federal Cabinet.
At 11am today, Azmin will have an audience with Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah at Istana Bukit Kayangan here.
“This important meeting is to discuss and resolve the issue regarding the state administration before the Mentri Besar leaves for a week-long umrah on June 6 (tomorrow), and before he relinquishes his duties on June 19,” the Sultan’s private secretary, Datuk Munir Bani, said in a statement yesterday.
Azmin said although his new role as the nation’s Economic Affairs Minister was challenging, he would be able to make his ministry successful given his past experience in the Education Ministry, Finance Ministry and Prime Minister’s Department (referring to his pre-PKR days).
“I will formulate a strategic direction to help place Malaysia at the top of the region’s economy again,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, state Financial Officer Datuk Nor Azmie Diron said it was sad that Selangor was losing its valuable asset who had successfully built the state the last four years.
Speaking to the media later, Azmin said the candidate to replace him has been selected and discussions are ongoing.
“I have been having discussions with the party leadership and we will be formally informing His Majesty of this soon,” he said.
On May 30, the Selangor palace set June 19 for the swearing-in of the new mentri besar at Istana Alam Shah in Klang.
Azmin said the new mentri besar could be from among the PKR exco members or one of the party’s elected representatives.
In line with the Selangor state constitution, the mentri besar must be a Malay and Muslim and due to various religious activities, also has to be male.
Currently, the PKR Malay male exco members are Sungai Tua assemblyman Amirudin Shari and Seri Setia assemblyman Prof Dr Shaharuddin Badaruddin.
Other potential PKR candidates are Dr Idris Ahmad (Ijok), Hilman Idham (Gombak Setia), Syamsul Firdaus Mohamed Supri ( Taman Medan), Mohd Khairuddin Othman (Paya Jaras), Shatiri Mansor (Kota Damansara), Najwan Halimi (Kota Anggerik), Azmizam Zaman Huri (Pelabuhan Klang), Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei (Sungai Kandis) and Borhan Aman Shah (Tanjong Sepat).
However, sources say 38-year-old Amirudin is the man.
Meanwhile, skills training organisation My Skills Foundation director S. Pasupathi said an additional Indian is necessary to look into the various social issues faced by the community, as he urged PKR to appoint an Indian as the replacement exco for Amirudin.
PKR’s only Indian assemblyman in Selangor is Sentosa’s elected representative Gunaraj George.