Azmin: PAS already part of S'gor gov't, what more is there?

PAS has helped chart Selangor's policies for nearly a decade and it would be strange if the party now sought to impose a new administration, said Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali.

"PAS is currently part of the state government. Since 2008, PAS has accepted policies in Selangor. It shows we have a good model.

"So what is it they want to change?" asked a bemused Azmin when met by reporters in Kuala Selangor today.

Selangor is currently ruled by Pakatan Harapan with support from PAS, although the latter does not have official ties with the coalition.

This arrangement was made on grounds that PAS, PKR and DAP were jointly given the mandate to rule during the last general election in 2013.

Yesterday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang mentioned at a Selangor PAS rally that his party sought to wrest Selangor in the next general election.

Asked on this today, Azmin said PAS lawmakers were part of the administration that agreed on a slew of new policies that was introduced in the past decade.

"As I mentioned earlier, we introduced programmes such as Kiss (Kasih Ibu Smart Selangor), free water, development policies and financial management with integrity.

"These are policies which abide by Islamic principles. We don't need to create labels such as 'Ibu Islam' or 'Islamic housing projects'.

"What is important is that there must distributive and social justice.

"There are three PAS members in the state cabinet apart from PAS backbenchers. They are part of the government until the next general election," he said.

When pressed for a further response to Hadi's comments, Azmin, who is also the PKR deputy president, said ultimately the public would decide on who should rule Selangor.

"We have to show confidence in the choices that will be made by the public. Once our term is over, we will seek the people's mandate. Let them decide the future of Selangor," he said.

He said he was confident the state government's various programmes, economic policies and large reserves will result in the public retaining their trust in the present administration.

Earlier today, Azmin attended the inaugural distribution of 700 Kiss welfare cards for eligible womenfolk from the Permatang, Ijok and Bukit Melawati constituencies.

Kiss cardholders will be able to buy up to RM200 worth of household necessities a month from about 500 participating retailers such as Giant Hypermarkets, 99 Speedmart and Pusat Pakaian Hari-Hari.

To be eligible, the applicant has had to be a Selangor resident for more than 10 years, a registered voter in Selangor and have a household income of not more than RM2,000.

Registration forms are available online or at the service centres of Selangor lawmakers.- Mkini