Amirudin Owes Selangorians an Explanation

 

By Stephen Ng

 

It is shocking that, under the administration of Menteri Besar Selangor Amirudin Shaari, that Selangor may lose another 4,000 hectares of pristine forest.

            I thought, for a moment, it was reading that Pakatan Harapan would lose Selangor after the 2+1 term that I had given to the coalition – two terms to clean up the mess, and in the third term, either they bring improvement to the state or they be shipped out.

            But, it says that, in the controversy involving Bukit Lagong forest reserve, Amirudin’s action is, in my opinion, not different from the previous Barisan Nasional state government.

            According to Otai Reformis secretary, Abdul Razak Ismail, he had even written to the Menteri Besar’s office under the Freedom of Information Act to seek for clarifications regarding some of the quarries, but the response he received would leave tongues wagging.

Yes, the state government is now resorting to the Official Secrets Act 1972 to hide information from the public. Apparently, novice Amirudin has not learnt that Malaysians are not happy with the OSA used as the blanket to hide away the truth from the people.

Questions too tough?

In another piece brilliantly put together by a Malaysiakini columnist, Andrew Sia, I am reminded of Amiruddin’s “secretive attempt” to destroy the Kuala Langat forest reserve last year.

So, if this man is not stopped, one by one the forest reserve in Selangor may disappear, especially when everything seems to be done under a cloud of secrecy.

This is why Sia even commented on Amirudin’s intimidating approach to his critics, as he is behaving “like a taikor (big brother) trying to intimidate people into silence.”

And, Sia is right when he asks, “Dear MB, if you want to talk tough, can you handle some equally tough questions?”

I am equally curious. On Sunday Sept 11, Amirudin was quoted by Selangorkini, saying that the controversy regarding the Bukit Cherakah forest reserve will be dealt with, latest by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Till today, there is no official explanation from the Menteri Besar’s office, which is why all the more I find it not only odd that Amirudin has remained silent, but there seems to be something that he is trying to hide all this while. If yes, what is it?

A few state assemblymen and women whom I have spoken to are equally curious about what the Menteri Besar has been doing regarding the forest reserve, and why 21 quarries, for example, have been awarded concessions to do quarrying work on Bukit Lagong.

When Sungai Pelek assemblyman, Ronnie Liu brought up the matter in the state assembly after being alerted by members of the public, he was being heckled by the Menteri Besar and his men.

Another assemblywoman told me that they are also trying to find out the truth. She only responded with one word, “Horrible” when I forwarded her an article about Selangor state-linked companies among those given the quarry concessions on what is currently a forest reserve.

Unbecoming

Anyway, Amirudin’s threat to sue one of his critics is simply unbecoming of a Menteri Besar who, in the first place, owes the rakyat of Selangor an explanation for what is happening under his administration.

He is apparently not very competent in his job, which leads me to the next question – how did he, in the first place, get picked as Menteri Besar after Azmin Ali vacated the position?

Where does Amirudin stand in Selangor’s political equation today? Is he for Pakatan Harapan, or is he a “traitor”? After listening to a slip of tongue from PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, I can only put my fingers crossed to watch the next episode.

So, while my grouses against Amirudin are based on two years of testing the state bureaucracy, now, it looks like there are more controversies and environmental issues than what I dare to think under PH – or, to be more precise, Amirudin’s administration.