By Syauqi Jamil
Merely a month after being sworn-in as the new Selangor Menteri Besar, Amirudin Shari is already knee-deep in fulfilling his promises to carry on his predecessor’s illustrious legacy.
After succeeding Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali who relinquished the position to become the Federal Economic Affairs Minister, Amirudin has said that he wished to visit all corners of the state himself in an attempt to improve systems, services as well as the quality of life for the people of Selangor.
Selangor Journal managed to witness first-hand how Amirudin got his own hands dirty, as he went through his jam-packed schedule one by one without displaying even a hint of exhaustion.
The Sungai Tua Selangor State Assemblyman had conducted a work visit in Sungai Kandis constituency just a day before the by-elections nomination day there, spending his whole day attending to the problems brought up to him to fix.
The Sungai Kandis State Assembly seat had fallen vacant after the death of Shuhaimi Shafiei due to lymphoma. (It was subsequently filled by Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni who won the by-election on August 4, 2018).
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This is especially true if you are the Menteri Besar for a state like Selangor.
Amirudin started his day around 9.00am with a good old Malaysian breakfast of roti canai and a cup of teh tarik in Warung Ijai Roti Canai, joined by about a hundred of the locals as well as a few familiar faces.
He was sharing his table with Zawawi before they were surprised with an impromptu visit by Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Xavier Jayakumar.
After spending some time with the locals for chats and a few selfies, Amirudin then made his way to officiate ‘Program Menyantuni Dan Semarak Inisiatif Peduli Rakyat (IPR)’.
At the program, a total of 180 people received aid through Skim HIJRAH, Skim Mesra Usia Emas, Selangor Young Entrepreneur Fund (DUMS) program and blueprint concessions among many others.
In his speech, Amirudin said that IPR was meant to mobilize the people in the form of social plans, skills, and knowledge and should not be simply seen as goodies handout.
He said such initiatives are vital for the people of Selangor so that none will be left behind as the state continues its rapid development.
Later, Amirudin arrived around 12.30 pm at Al-Muhsinin Mosque where a total of RM190,000 was donated to 10 Islamic institutions through a program called ‘Majlis Ramah Mesra dan Penyampaian Baik Pulih Institusi Agama Islam Selangor’.
He encouraged the folks to utilize Islamic institutions such as mosques as a unifying establishment for the community, stressing that it should also be a place where the youth comes together.
He would later perform the Friday Prayer there before having a light lunch with the mosque committee afterwards.
At about 3.00 pm, the Selangor MB visited the Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi), Klang office to hand over Malaysia Good Agriculture Practice (MyGAP) incentives.
He was later taken to a cornfield nearby to witness for himself the activities, as well as to have a taste of a sweet, freshly plucked, Selangor grown corn.
His day in Sungai Kandis did not end there. Amirudin continued on with a site visit to the Shah Alam–Banting Alternative Road project.
He was informed the progress of the RM43 million project is on track and is currently 79% completed. It is expected to be completed by December this year.
Besides widening the roads from two to four lanes, other upgrading works which include drainage upgrade, bridges, pedestrian walkway, and cross roads traffic lights are also being done simultaneously.
After giving his speech, Amirudin, accompanied by JKR officers walked through dirt, dust and mud around the construction areas to see for himself the problems as well as the progress in overcoming those problems, before finally ending his day there.
A wise American leader, Booker T. Washington once said; nothing ever comes to one that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.
This couldn’t be any truer especially when it comes down to governing an economically stable, people-centric and transparent state like Selangor. But for the new Selangor MB, it’s all just another day at work.
