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Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Khir Toyo backing PN won't help coalition retake Selangor, say analysts
An analyst said the influence of former menteris besar Khir Toyo and Azmin Ali (centre), along with former Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar, is still not strong enough to help PN reclaim the state. PETALING JAYA : By joining Bersatu, former Selangor menteri besar Khir Toyo may help Perikatan Nasional (PN) strengthen its position in Malay-majority areas – but it is unlikely to be enough for the coalition to reclaim control of the state, say analysts. Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said Khir teaming up with two other political heavyweights in Selangor, former menteri besar Azmin Ali and former state Umno chief Noh Omar, would certainly give PN a boost. Awang Azman Pawi. However, he noted that the trio's influence is largely confined to Malay-majority constituencies and would do little to sway support from non-Malay voters. 'The current state government remains strong in mixed and urban seats. The Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance has the advantage in urban areas such as Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, and Serdang. 'As long as support from non-Malay and young voters remain with the unity government, it will be difficult for this PN trio to retake the entire state,' he told FMT. 'That said, PH-BN must remain cautious. They shouldn't be too quick to dismiss these seasoned political figures as irrelevant.' According to Awang Azman, the true strength of the trio depends on how well they can unify grassroots party machinery, present a fresh narrative, and overcome the public's negative perception, especially in light of Khir's previous conviction. Khir, a former three-term assemblyman, was sentenced to a year in prison in 2015 for abuse of power over the purchase of land and a bungalow and was released on parole after serving six months. Awang Azman said Khir's entry into Bersatu could also help reconcile the long-standing rivalry between factions that had previously supported Khir and Noh. 'This signals their willingness to put old Umno rivalries behind them in pursuit of a larger political goal – defeating PH-BN in Selangor. 'They realise that political survival demands compromise. In this context, the ambition to retake Selangor takes precedence over personal grudges,' he said, referring to the rivalry between Khir and Noh over the menteri besar's post during the 13th general election in 2013. Meanwhile, Ariff Aizuddin Azlan of Universiti Teknologi Mara believes Khir is unlikely to spark any political upset in the next election, as he is widely viewed as politically irrelevant and still tainted by his past conviction for abuse of power. Ariff Aizuddin Azlan. He said Selangor voters are looking for a fresh leader with strong, innovative ideas and the ability to inspire a sense of change that resonates with the public. 'To win Selangor, PN needs a more substantial narrative. 'The coalition must offer a new formula, such as good governance and shared economic prosperity regardless of race or religion,' he said.
Malaysiakini
6 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Selangor authorities are failing at waste management
LETTER | Welcome to Visit Malaysia Year 2026. In just five months, Malaysia will welcome tourists from across the globe, drawn by its natural beauty, cultural richness, and warm hospitality. Yet, for those visiting Selangor - the country's richest and most populous state - the experience may be marred by a troubling reality: illegal dumps, clogged monsoon drains reeking with foul stench, and rodent infestations thriving in neglected urban pockets. Pakatan Harapan's governance of Selangor since 2008 has yet to see meaningful reform since the era of Azmin Ali as menteri besar, as systemic issues persist till today. This perception will hopefully change if serious reforms are introduced in the local government, which currently remains elusive. I have been monitoring the administration under Menteri Besar Amiruddin Shari, which leads to the conclusion that it is not only the system, but the state government that has to be revamped if the current government wants to retain its seats in Selangor. Decades of monitoring, same old problems From my nearly seven years of monitoring the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS), for example, complaints about illegal dumping and uncollected waste are routinely deflected - blaming contractors or residents - while local council staff and appointed councillors escape scrutiny. I have invested considerable effort over the years to document these failures on my blog, with the aim of showing the state government how MPS has consistently failed to deliver basic services. My monitoring began about 30 years ago, even before it became a municipality, and the patterns of neglect remain disturbingly familiar. What's especially disheartening is the realisation that the root of the problem lies in the steady deterioration of state governance - particularly since the departure of the first batch of state executive councillors, who once showed genuine commitment to reform. Despite raising concerns via WhatsApp to Amirudin and former local government exco Ng Sze Han, neither has visited the affected areas. Worse still, Ng Suee Lim and a few state assemblypersons blocked my WhatsApp messages altogether - as if silencing complaints solves the problem. They should go down to the ground to see for themselves what people face every day. Even formal channels like emails to both the local council, state assemblyperson, MP, state exco and the menteri besar, as well as the Public Complaints System, have yielded disappointing responses. KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd - a wholly owned subsidiary of Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) - does clean up the mess, but illegal dumping often resumes the very next day. While the blame falls squarely on the people, the root issue lies in poor enforcement. If Penang or Singapore can do it, why not Selangor? Council staff, paid to monitor and act, fail to deter repeat offenders. The cycle continues, unchecked. What's more alarming is the logistical bottleneck - I was told it would take two to three months to book the only catch basin cleaner truck available to serve the entire state. This delay explains why many monsoon drains remain filled with stagnant muck, posing health and flood risks. In my opinion, if KDEB lacks the budget to expand its fleet, then the responsibility falls squarely on the state government. As KDEB is under Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI), the menteri besar himself should focus on ensuring that the essential infrastructure is provided for - not just flashy initiatives like yet another parking system overhaul. Is it time for change? Considering that Selangor is one of the richest states in Malaysia, the poor delivery of basic services is not commensurate with its recent increase in assessment rates. Factory owners in Rawang Integrated Industrial Park have often told me that their assessment rates were raised, but the services are poor. Illegal dumps keep appearing in the industrial estate. Unlike the Federal Territories, Selangor has appointed local councillors, many of whom have retained their positions for a couple of terms. But they are no longer as proactive as the pioneering batch in 2008. Today, many seem disengaged, with little accountability or ground presence. Often, when complaints are lodged with their MPs or local state assemblypersons, it is just self-defence, instead of genuinely trying to solve problems on the ground. As a long-time supporter of Harapan, I say this with a heavy heart: Selangor's performance deserves an 'F' because it fails to manage the performance of the local councils. If this continues, unless there is a serious reshuffle in the exco line-up and a renewed commitment to ground-level governance, it may be time for change. Even though the general election is just two years from now, it is still not too late to make the necessary changes for Selangor to leapfrog ahead, especially since Selangor is the gateway to tourists from around the world. Let's hope the leadership listens before the world arrives and sees not just our beauty, but our neglect. The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Umno has lost its ambition, says Khir Toyo after joining Bersatu
Former Selangor menteri besar Khir Toyo said he had met with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and secretary-general Azmin Ali before deciding to join their party. (File pic) PETALING JAYA : Umno has lost all ambition to lead the government, whether at the federal level or in Selangor, said former Selangor menteri besar Khir Toyo in explaining his decision to join Bersatu. Khir, who served as menteri besar from 2000 to 2008, confirmed that he was accepted into Bersatu on July 1. He said Umno had become merely a supplementary party, lacking the ambition to return to power. 'In Selangor, for example, they were only allowed to contest 12 state seats (in the August 2023 state election). How is it possible to become a menteri besar with only 12 seats, even if you win them all?' he asked. The former Umno Supreme Council member also believes that the party will not be allocated enough parliamentary seats in the next general election (GE16). 'At the federal level, I think Umno will be given fewer than 40 seats. Even if it wins all of them, can it regain the prime minister's post? 'That's why Umno is now just a 'supplementary' party, no longer dominant like before,' he said. Khir told FMT he had met Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and secretary-general Azmin Ali before deciding to join the party, adding that his decision was made 'maturely and thoughtfully'. The former Sungai Panjang assemblyman also dismissed suggestions that he joined Bersatu out of frustration or bitterness. 'I'm not disappointed, I've already reached a high position as a menteri besar and I have no ambition to helm that post again,' he said. Khir said it was important for a political party to have clear aspirations to lead the government. 'I just want to help a party that has the ambition to become the government. I'm not looking to be a menteri besar again. We must give way to others, but the party must have ambition. 'If you want to help the Malays, you must have power,' he said. Since 2008, PKR has led the Selangor government through Pakatan Rakyat and now Pakatan Harapan, after the Barisan Nasional state administration fell out of power under Khir's leadership. Khir, a former three-term assemblyman, was sentenced to a year in prison in 2015 for abuse of power over the purchase of land and a bungalow and was released on parole after serving six months. He attempted a political comeback in the 15th general election, announcing his intention to contest the Sungai Besar parliamentary seat. However, BN decided to nominate Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Yunos as its candidate instead. Jamal came up third-best in the four-cornered contest, with Bersatu's Muslimin Yahaya winning the seat with a 2,721-vote majority.
Free Malaysia Today
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PN setting up ‘executive committee' led by Azmin, says Takiyuddin
Azmin Ali is secretary-general of both Perikatan Nasional and Bersatu. KUALA LUMPUR : Perikatan Nasional is forming an 'executive committee' led by secretary-general Azmin Ali as part of efforts to strengthen the coalition's structure, says PN chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan. Takiyuddin, who is PAS secretary-general, revealed this to FMT when met at Yayasan Albukhary here. He declined to disclose further details nor did he explain the need for the new executive committee, the formation of which had been raised in recent reports. However, he brushed aside suggestions that PN – particularly Bersatu – was in disarray. He said the opposition coalition remains united and functional under its current leadership. 'I would like to confirm there is no problem in PN. We still have the same chairman, deputy chairmen and all our executive positions,' he said. Takiyuddin said the current leadership structure was already well-established, with their roles clearly defined, and there was no need for a new leadership council to manage the coalition's affairs. 'There was once a proposal for a separate body, but it's not needed now. A PN presidential council already exists. It consists of the presidents of all PN component parties and they meet regularly,' he said. Yesterday, PAS central committee member Khairil Nizam Khirudin said the party had proposed that PN establish a presidential council to oversee the coalition while an executive committee takes the lead on 'championing issues'. Khairil said the Bersatu leadership was aware of the proposal. It was previously reported that PAS had proposed restructuring PN to make Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin the head of an executive committee that manages the coalition's day-to-day affairs. Under the reported plan, the presidents of PAS, Bersatu, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) would form an advisory council while retaining their roles on the PN Supreme Council. This was dismissed by Hamzah as 'nonsensical stories' spread by outsiders seeking to divide Bersatu and PN. PN is currently led by its chairman, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin. Takiyuddin said PN's operations are currently carried out by the coalition's deputy chairmen, namely Hamzah, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, Gerakan president Dominic Lau and MIPP president P Punithan. 'That's the executive, then it flows from there all the way down. That's how our operations work. There's no problem,' he said. He said the coalition is working towards setting up a secretariat tasked with establishing its new headquarters. 'We are in the process (of doing so),' he said. FMT had reported that PN's office in Solaris Dutamas had been closed since March. Azmin later said the coalition decided against renewing the lease and had set up its headquarters at a temporary location while a new office was being established.
Free Malaysia Today
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PN's headquarters closed since March, says insider
Claims have been circulating that Perikatan Nasional no longer maintains a functioning office in Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur. (Wikipedia pic) PETALING JAYA : Perikatan Nasional's headquarters in the upscale area of Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur, has reportedly been closed since March. According to a party source, the party had stopped paying rental for the office, where the coalition's Supreme Council had held its meetings since PN was formed in 2020. Asked about the matter, Bersatu's information chief, Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz, said queries should be directed to the coalition's secretary-general, Azmin Ali. 'That matter is related to administrative issues. You may refer to Azmin for further information,' he told FMT. FMT has sought comment from Azmin and PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan. Tun Faisal denied another claim by the party source that no meetings of the PN top brass had been held since the party's leadership reshuffle last year due to 'internal tensions'. He said the PN Supreme Council had convened at least twice this year. 'There were leadership meetings before the Ayer Kuning by-election (in April) and also when Radzi Jidin was appointed as PN information chief,' he said. The source had claimed that PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin and Azmin were attempting to avoid calling for a Supreme Council meeting in the face of pressure from PAS to restructure the coalition's leadership. PAS is said to be pushing for the presidents of PN member parties to relinquish their executive roles, and for them to form an advisory council instead. Under this proposal, Hamzah Zainudin, the parliamentary opposition leader and Bersatu deputy president, would be made PN chairman while his number two would be one of the deputy presidents of the other parties. Last week, Utusan Malaysia quoted Hamzah as dismissing talk that he was moving to oust Muhyiddin as Bersatu president. He also described the rumours as 'nonsensical stories' spread by outsiders seeking to divide Bersatu and PN.
