Azmin: No intentions to contest in state election
Former Selangor menteri besar Azmin Ali said he does not intend to contest in the upcoming state election.
The Bukit Antarabangsa incumbent - who lost his Gombak parliamentary seat in the 15th general election - said he would be making way for fresh faces.
“I have made it known that I want to...
Former Selangor menteri besar Azmin Ali said he does not intend to contest in the upcoming state election.
The Bukit Antarabangsa incumbent - who lost his Gombak parliamentary seat in the 15th general election - said he would be making way for fresh faces.
“I have made it known that I want to take a break. I have served seven terms.
“So I think we should allow the younger generations to succeed and we have potential candidates who are very committed to the cause.
“As far as I’m concerned, that was my decision which I made six months ago immediately after the general election… I’m sticking to it,” Azmin told reporters at the Selangor Perikatan Nasional Raya open house celebrations in Shah Alam tonight.
He was responding to a report earlier today speculating that he may be moved to contest a “safer” seat in Morib for the Selangor state election.
When questioned whether he would consider contesting if the Perikatan Nasional leadership asked him to, Azmin acknowledged that there had been “casual” talks on the matter.
However, he said no official discussions have been held on that.
“I leave it to the wisdom of the leaders in PN,” he added.
As a member of PKR, Azmin served one term as an assemblyperson for Hulu Kelang in 1999 followed by three terms for Bukit Antarabangsa from 2008.
He is serving his third term as the Bukit Antarabangsa elected representative in the Selangor state assembly.
From 2008 he also served as the Gombak MP, however, his electoral fortunes reversed in last year's general election when he only managed to bag 36 percent of votes in Gombak while contesting on a PN ticket and PKR won back the seat.
Azmin said he was made to understand that Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari intends to dissolve the state assembly on June 19, after which the Election Commission will set a date for the state polls.
Amirudin had previously been asked if he was ready to face Azmin should the latter want to challenge him again in an election, in which the menteri besar said he was prepared for any eventualities.
PN’s chances in S’gor
The Selangor PN chief expressed confidence and optimism about his coalition’s performance in the upcoming state election.
This is because the federal government is seen as not fulfilling their promises, especially with regard to lowering the cost of living and dealing with rising inflation, he said.
On the contrary, Azmin said the PN government had proven itself during their administration.
“They talk a lot but without any specific solution and action to handle matters.
“Under the leadership of (then prime minister) Muhyiddin Yassin and PN during that very difficult time, we were able to manage the economy and also to accelerate the recovery.
“I think most Selangorians are well-educated, middle-class people. They know what’s happening and we are hoping they will give us a chance to come back to Selangor and manage the state economy and also the welfare of the people,” he added.
The rakyat is also tired of the federal government’s “witch-hunting” and “vindictive” methods, he said.
PN can offer policies and initiatives that they already started to implement during their time in power, Azmin said.
‘PN never gave posts to kleptocrats’
On a separate issue, the former international trade and industries minister said foreign investors are observing the Madani government very closely.
Azmin pointed out that foreign investors would not be confident in a government where leaders charged in court for corruption can be appointed into senior positions in the administration.
“The fact that they embrace kleptocrats, these corrupt leaders holding senior positions in the government, how do you convince them to come and invest in Malaysia?
“Meanwhile, when Muhyiddin was in power, even though we had a collaboration with Umno and BN but we did not allow any kleptocrats who are facing charges in court to hold all these senior posts.
“Which is why I want to ask DAP, why are you keeping quiet? You talk about governance and corruption and you allow the prime minister to have new partners. That is very wrong,” he said.
He thought Malaysian only remember for 40 days and damn he was wrong