By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
SHAH ALAM, Nov 25 — The allocation placed under the Menteri Besar’s Office is appropriate and in line with his capacity, as he holds multiple portfolios.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said it is also to accommodate any needs which arise, as the position also has the capacity to enter into each portfolio.
“People say the Menteri Besar’s ‘level’ is higher, which it is not… but (the Menteri Besar’s capacity) in terms of its position conceptually is like a minister in the Federal government, while the state executive councillors are akin to deputy ministers.
“Even though it is said to be under the Menteri Besar’s Office, when one looks beneath it, one can see agriculture, welfare, and so on. In appearance or terms of authority, the Menteri Besar has authority over everything given.
“This system is not the same as Sarawak or Sabah as they have a ministry system, not holding portfolios, but instead, the Chief Minister has the capacity to enter into each portfolio,” he said.
Amirudin was responding to a question from Hulu Kelang state assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali regarding the allocation given to the Menteri Besar’s Office during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly session yesterday.
In addition to his role as Menteri Besar, Amirudin also holds five portfolios, namely land and natural resources development, finance and economic actions, administration modernisation and government digitisation, strategic communication, and education and human capital development.
Earlier, he announced the state government will allocate an initial RM1.1 million sum to 22 Opposition assembly members in the near future.
The RM50,000 allocation for each member is to help them meet their needs and manage their office operations at the constituency service centres.
