Day: May 3, 2024

SHAH ALAM: Selangor’s state reserves have been increasing every year since 2019 despite the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government spending a substantial amount on people’s welfare initiatives, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.

He said the situation is markedly different from the time of former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali from 2015 to 2018, where the state reserves were spent but expenditure on welfare initiatives for the people did not increase.

In a statement on his Facebook page today, the Selangor PH chairman said when the Hulu Kelang state assemblyman took over the helm of the government in 2015, the reserves were RM3.26 billion but decreased to RM3.05 billion in 2016.

He said the reserves continued to shrink during Mohamed Azmin’s tenure to RM2.84 billion in 2017 and RM2.14 billion in 2018.

“During the last state election (PRN), he said his era had low reserves because he spent a lot. He got angry at me, saying that the reserves were high but there was no spending. Now,
he is claiming that during his time, the reserves were high.

‘Min (Mohamed Azmin), which is which? Why are you changing your statements and confusing the people?’ he said in reply to Mohamed Azmin’s allegations that the state’s reserves exceeded RM4 billion when he was the Menteri Besar.

Amirudin said since leading the state government in 2019, he has been continuously striving to increase the state’s reserves for the benefit of future generations, while also increasing initiatives for the welfare of the Selangor people.

He said spending on people’s welfare initiatives was increased to RM2.37 billion, more than the RM1.3 billion allocated by Mohamed Azmin previously.

He said the PH government could afford to spend more after increasing the state’s reserves from RM2.14 billion in 2019 to RM2.45 billion in 2020.

‘The state’s reserves continued to strengthen to RM2.8 billion and RM3.29 billion in 2021 and 2022 respectively, before increasing to RM3.4 billion last year, the highest accumulated since 2008,” h
e added.

Amirudin said this amount did not include the state government’s expenditure of RM1 billion to provide three economic stimulus packages during the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine purchases and the three Kita Selangor packages for Selangor people during the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

“During Azmin Ali’s tenure as Selangor MB, was there COVID-19? No!” he said.

In this regard, Amirudin urged the people, especially in Kuala Kubu Baharu, not to be confused and influenced by the instigation of those he described as muddled.

“Do not be influenced by those who are confused. The Unity Government has proven to be prudent in spending while prioritising the welfare of the Selangor people,” said Amirudin.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

HULU SELANGOR, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail today denied claims that the proposed pay rise for civil servants that was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last Wednesday, was a campaign tool for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

Instead, the Unity Government had started the revision of the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) some time ago but the announcement was made in conjunction with the 2024 Labour Day celebration on May 1, he said.

‘If looked at from the time frame of the announcement, their own question will be answered,’ he said after attending Hari Raya celebrations at the Kuala Kubu Baharu Police Academy, here today.

The Home Minister said this in response to Bersatu’s Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal who was quoted as saying that the announcement of a pay rise for civil servants would not have any effect on voters in the by-election.

The Prime Minister had on Wednesday (May 1), announced a pay rise of more than 13% including a minimum pay of RM2,0
00 for civil servants under the SSPA, effective Dec 2024, through an allocation that would involve RM10 billion.

Anwar who is also the Finance Minister had said under the revised SSPA, the Unity Government would ensure that civil servants will enjoy a minimum remuneration of RM2,000 a month.

Saifuddin also challenged Wan Ahmad Fayhsal who is the Machang Member of Parliament and his Perikatan Nasional colleagues to make their stand known as to whether they support or are against the announced salary adjustment for civil servants.

The KKB by-election will witness a four-cornered fight involving Pang Sock Tao (Pakatan Harapan), Khairul Azhari Saut (Perikatan Nasional), Hafizah Zainuddin (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) and Nyau Ke Xin (Independent).

The by-election is being called following the death of incumbent Lee Kee Hiong, 58, on March 21, due to cancer.

The Election Commission (EC) set May 11 as polling day while early voting is on May 7.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no water supply cut for multiple areas in Selangor as the Sungai Selangor Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Phase 1 (SSP1) maintenance works originally slated to be carried out from May 14 to 16 have been postponed.

Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) announced this on its social media platforms.

‘Referring to the information regarding the scheduled maintenance works of Sungai Selangor Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Phase 1 (SSP1), Air Selangor would like to inform (you) that these maintenance works will be moved to a new date that will be announced later,’ it said.

A local news portal report on the scheduled water cut had gone viral on social media after a notice on the maintenance works appeared on the Air Selangor application.

According to an appendix to the notice, the areas supposed to be affected by the water cut were Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Gombak, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Selangor and certain localities in Kuala Lumpur.

However, this list has since been removed by Ai
r Selangor.

For any updated information, please refer to Air Selangor’s official website at https://www.airselangor.com/ or social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency