By Zareef Muzammil
GOMBAK, Aug 2 — Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional (BN) successfully formulated a clear economic plan shortly after the coalition formed the Unity Government.
In stark contrast, Selangor Harapan chairman Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said Perikatan Nasional (PN) lacked a clear economic direction during the 33 months it held power as the Federal government.
He cited the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme as an example by the Unity Government and how it offers up to 120 per cent in financing guarantee. The initiative was last implemented in 2005.
“We (Harapan – BN) have a good economic plan for a period of seven to eight months. Programmes, targets, and assistance for homeownership, to the extent the Prime Minister was prepared to direct banks to provide loans of up to 120 per cent.
“The last time this happened was around 2005 or 2006. So when PN had no grounds to attack Selangor, they turned against the Federal government instead,” Amirudin said.
Speaking at the Arus Merah Kuning ceramah yesterday evening, he said 171,000 affordable housing units have been developed in the state, with 40,000 units completed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Amirudin added that 200,000 residential units will be provided for the people, as mentioned in the Selangor Harapan – BN manifesto.
“I believe with the Harapan and BN unity, we can also carry out this housing initiative, where the people will be able to own comfortable homes under the state administration in the upcoming term,” he said.
Meanwhile, Amirudin, who is also the Menteri Besar, is confident the Harapan – BN alliance will enhance Selangor’s reputation in the Southeast Asian region.
This is particularly the case regarding development and welfare, which they will uphold should they be given the mandate in the ongoing Selangor State Election.
“I am convinced that if we secure victory, Selangor will go far with BN’s tradition of friendly governance and Harapan’s new ideas of development and welfare. Not only will we be champions nationally, but also a benchmark in the Southeast Asian region,” he said.
Amirudin questioned the Opposition’s ability to offer any sort of initiative to the people, similar to what Harapan is currently doing in various forms.
With Skim Insurans Am Selangor (Insan) as an example, the incumbent Sungai Tua state assemblyman said Selangor is the only state in the region which offers such an initiative.
“What do they (Perikatan Nasional) want to change about this? What are their offers? Nothing,” he said.
Amirudin also took the opportunity to criticise former menteri besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali for frequently making baseless accusations and twisting facts over pipe replacement in Selangor.
During Azmin’s administration, only 200km of pipes were replaced at an estimated RM300 million. Whereas during Amirudin’s time, 600km were replaced at over RM700 million.
“During the three to four years serving as menteri besar, how much piping was replaced? 200km, with a cost of around RM300 million. Under the current government, we replaced 600km, even with a one-year pause due to the pandemic. Otherwise, it would have been more than 700km,” he said.
For the Selangor State Election and the elections for five other states, the Election Commission has set August 8 as the early voting date, with polling on August 12.
