PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) will improve on the welfare policies of Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in Selangor if given the mandate to govern the state, a coalition leader said.

Selangor PAS communications secretary Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahir said PAS has experience in shaping government policies because it was in the PKR-led government for 10 years before leaving over differences.
 
“We will continue what we started, to lift Selangor’s economy and reduce the gap between urban and rural voters,” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

Since 2018, under the administration of Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, Selangor has introduced 45 welfare programmes under under Iltizam Selangor Penyayang.

PAS joined the Selangor administration under menteri besar Khalid Ibrahim for the first time after Barisan Nasional (BN) lost the 2008 elections.

PAS remained in the state government under menteri besar Mohamed Azmin Ali, who was then the PKR deputy president. During the period, 15 PAS representatives were state government excos while party grassroots leaders served as council members, village heads and community leaders.

The Selangor government had then introduced the People’s Care Initiative (IPR) for the poor and marginalised.

In 2015, PAS parted ways with Pakatan Rakyat and exited the state government, leaving DAP and PKR to form Pakatan Harapan with PAS splinter party, Amanah.

In 2018, PH strengthened its position in Selangor when it won 51 of the 56 state seats.

Roslan noted that the people of Selangor are familiar with PAS.

“It is not impossible that they will to vote for PAS,” said Roslan.

He said PN will focus on Malay voters because they make up the majority of Selangor’s population.

“Our biggest supporters in 2020 were the Malays,” he said.

He said PN will launch programmes to improve the socio-economic status of the marginalised, including the Malays.

Selangor Bersatu secretary Azman Yaakob said PN will focus on young people in addition to food security and economic issues.

“We will focus more on young people who will be making changes in the future.

“They are the ones who need to be informed, taken care of, especially in issues related to sports, recreational activities, job opportunities, and a better economy.

“We also won’t forget issues such as affordable housing and bread-and-butter issues.” – June 4, 2023.