By Danial Dzulkifly
HULU SELANGOR, May 10 – The rapidly declining hardcore poverty rate in Selangor is thanks to the administration’s strong teamwork, said Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
Amirudin said recent data revealed to him during the State Executive Council meeting yesterday showed the number of hardcore poor individuals had dropped from 861 to 245, in line with the state’s aim to eradicate hardcore poverty by July.
“Selangor has successfully reduced hardcore poverty from 3,000 individuals to just 861 last week, and in just five days, we managed to reduce that number to 245. This is because we have a strong team,’’ he said at the Ceramah Mega Perpaduan Grand Finale for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign period, which was attended by several federal leaders and Unity Government cabinet members.
Over 1,000 people attended the event, which held the message that the Unity Government and its candidate, 31-year-old Pang Sock Tao, represent sustainable progress and mature politics, representative of all communities.
In his speech, Amirudin however acknowledged that Selangor’s proven track record was a double-edged sword, as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has prioritised states such as Kelantan and Terengganu in their effort to eradicate hardcore poverty.
“I am somewhat jealous as we (the Selangor administration) still have not had the opportunity to sit down for a full board meeting with the Prime Minister, when he has done so with Kelantan and Terengganu.
“I understand this as both states have over 2,000 hardcore families, respectively, and need more attention from the Prime Minister, who felt Selangor could wait a bit longer as we have a stronger team.
“But this is also a point I would like to make, despite the opposition from these states that keep criticising our Prime Minister when he has helped them the most,’’ said Amirudin.
Amirudin then shifted his focus to the by-election campaign, urging voters to support Pang as she would be able to continue to the late Lee Kee Hiong’s legacy and strengthen the state administration.
“Pang will continue the good work of the late Lee Kee Hiong, and no doubt she will also contribute to the administration, making us a stronger team,’’ he said.
Pang faces a four-cornered fight in the by-election as she looks to defend the seat for the Unity Government.
She faces Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Khairul Azhari Saut, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s (PRM) Hafizah Zainudin, and Independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin.
The by-election was triggered following the death of incumbent Lee on March 21, after her years-long battle with cancer. The late assemblyman first won the seat in 2013 and managed to successfully defend it for three consecutive terms.
During the state election last year, Lee won the seat with a 4,119 majority, garnering 14,862 total votes against PN’s Teoh Kien Hong (10,743 votes), Muda’s R. Siva Prakash (1,186 votes), and PRM’s Ch’ng Boon Lai (527 votes).
