Why Azmin Ali will not be an effective opposition leader in Selangor

The Selangor state assembly will just be another theatre for sandiwara

The Selangor state election is over. The new state assembly will be composed of 34 PH-BN members and 22 Perikatan Nasional members in the 56 assembly. Anwar Ibrahim supported Amirudin Shari as chief minister, as he did a lot to finance the campaign.

However, Amirudin will not have an easy time as chief minister. The INSAN insurance scandal still has much more news to come out. This time the citizens of Selangor are directly affected, unlike the other looming scandals around town.

The Selangor Maritime Gateway is not forgotten and the suit between Vincent Tan and Kedah MB Sanusi Nor promises to keep the issue on the front page (poor tactics by VT). The stadium issue will come alive once again when the structure is demolished very soon. The quarry concessions are still in the background as well.

Many are welcoming a strong opposition in Selangor

There are expectations that a viable opposition in the state assembly will tackle the above alleged corruption issues on the floor of the assembly.   

Many are pointing to Azmin Ali who won the Hulu Kelang seat as the opposition leader. Azmin was chief minister from 2014-2018, and became the Economics minister under Mahathir Mohamed, who led the Pakatan Harapan government. After playing a leading role in the Sheraton Putsch, Azmin became a senior minister under Muhyiddin Yassin and later Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

To outsiders of PKR, Azmin is portrayed as a traitor. However, Azmin still has good relations with many inside Pakatan. Amirudin was Azmin’s protégé, who now leads the faction created by Azmin within PKR. Many were surprised Amirudin didn’t leave PKR with Azmin, but he didn’t have a federal seat at the time. Anyway, the chief minister of Selangor is a very powerful position.

Selangor Stadium soon to be demolished?

Amirudin stayed behind to hold the reins in Selangor.

Of great consequence, Azmin was deeply involved in many of the issues that Amirudin is being criticised for. Azmin initiated the Selangor Stadium project, he also is believed to have a quarry concession through proxy companies. Azmin moves around the power-business elites that have interests in Selangor.

Therefore, its very difficult to see any Azmin led Perikatan Nasional opposition take Amirudin to task over the scandals mentioned above. The Sarawak Report just linked another alleged scandal in Selangor directly with Azmin.  

The style of PN in opposition

No party wishes to be in opposition, and that’s why all political parties suck at the job. Performing well in the assembly doesn’t win support. Its also time consuming for little return.

Looking at PN’s track record. The new Selangor opposition will be meek. Their objective is to win government in the next election, and these efforts will mostly occur outside the assembly.

All these politicians are the same people anyway

By now most will be noticing, different governments just bring the same policies. Most of the time these politicians just play sandiwara. They all know each other, and many even have business interests together. You would be surprised who is doing business with who. What happens in public is not always suggestive of what happens behind closed doors.

The Selangor state assembly will just be another theatre for sandiwara.

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