Selangor exco Ean Yong hits back at Azmin over ‘reshuffling’ comments

Written by Chua Sue-Ann, The Edge 

Selangor state executive council (exco) member Ean Yong Hian Wah today lashed back at Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Azmin Ali over the latter's calls for the state cabinet's reshuffle.

Yong, who is the exco member in charge of new villages development and the illegal factory task force, said in a press statement today that he was "surprised" and "regretted (kesal)" Azmin's comments.

"As an experienced politician and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Backbenchers' Club president, (Azmin) should have been more proactive in understanding the state government's policies if he felt dissatisfied or had doubts on policy implementation.

"I would like to stress that if (Azmin) has the chance to be Selangor menteri besar, he too would follow the same steps in order to defend the rights and interests of the people and the state," said Ean Yong (Seri Kembangan-DAP).

Azmin, who is Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president, caused controversy yesterday when he called for the Selangor exco to be reorganised, hitting out at several of the state administration's policies.

Ean Yong also sought to counter Azmin's criticism of the Selangor state government's policies during yesterday's debates on the supplementary bill.

Azmin had criticised the State Economic Action Council (MTES), tasked with facilitating licenses approval, for its inefficiency and red tape.

Azmin also said he received many complaints from the business community on excessive delays in approvals, adding that this stifled Selangor's economy.

Responding to that, Ean Yong said the PR-led state government had since reviewed privatisation projects that was "unprofitable to the rakyat and the state".

Ean Yong added that MTES was the most appropriate forum to solve the problems that allegedly occurred during the Barisan Nasional (BN) Selangor administration.

Meanwhile, Ean Yong also sought to defend fellow Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu against Azmin's criticism of the manner in which local council appointments were announced.

According to Ean Yong, Liu could not announce the full line-up of appointed local councillors because a PR component party failed to compile its party list on time, resulting in Liu having to persist with the announcement on the fixed date.

Ean Yong, who is DAP Selangor chief, also maintained that the party wanted to see closer cooperation among the PR parties in Selangor rather than a "culture of accusing each other like the BN".