By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, Aug 6 — Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari has dismissed allegations that the First Selangor Plan (RS-1), which was tabled last week, aimed to win votes in the next 15th General Election (GE15).
Instead, he asserted that the state’s five-year plan was scheduled to be tabled at the end of 2020 but was forced to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We started (formulating the RS-1) in 2020 but then the pandemic happened and we have to adjust accordingly. So the July sitting (state assembly) was the best time to table the plan as the situation has improved a lot.
“I leave it to whatever perception they wanted to have. We are not small-minded people who only think about GE15…and give outlandish figures and trends plucked from the air. Instead, we gave (the right) indicators accompanied with numbers and trends, continuing from ideals formed since 2008,” he said on the Bicara Bernama TV talk show programme last night.
He also explained that RS-1 was a continuation of initiatives and programmes inspired by previous state leaders.
“I continued the work of former menteri besars on (who envisioned) several projects including the redevelopment of Sungai Klang which is the Selangor Maritime Gateway project as well as the expansion of the programme for Selangor to become a Smart City 2025.
“This (RS-1) is not Amirudin Shari’s dream but is a continuation of what had been suggested before. It is an honest document that lets people know where the state government is heading in the next five years.
“So this (RS-1) will be (the responsibility) up to whoever replaces (as menteri besar). InsyaAllah (God willing) after the mandate given to use that will end next year, we will begin building a solid platform for comprehensive development of the state,” he said.
The RS-1 which was tabled on July 27 has a total cost of RM212.44 billion with RM92.44 billion set aside for state-level development initiatives, including the introduction of several incentives to ensure the welfare of the people.
