PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim today announced Amirudin Shari will be retained as menteri besar if the unity government stays in power after the state polls.

Anwar said the decision to retain the Sungai Tua incumbent as the menteri besar was made due to his performance in governing the state, which saw Selangor being the top contributor to the country’s economic growth.

“Selangor is number one in terms of economic growth in the first quarter of this year. That’s why I proposed for him to be retained as menteri besar.

“This is the first time I’m officially announcing it. Even he (Amirudin) is shocked. It’s because of the economic growth,” he said when launching the state-level Sentuhan Agro Madani programme at MSekin Wonderland in Sekinchan today.

Anwar said the unity government must continue to lead Selangor for it to remain strong, and that all state plans are implemented in line with that of the federal government. 

“We have to fix (several) things because we want a strong state government. When the state is strong, it can help the federal government. We must together and help each other because sometimes, the state government’s capability may be limited,” the prime minister said.

The last composition of the Selangor assembly its dissolution on June 23 saw Pakatan Harapan holding 40 seats comprising PKR (19), DAP (15) and Amanah (6), while Barisan Nasional had five, Bersatu (4), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (2), and PAS, Pejuang, Warisan and Independent with one each.

The Batang Kali seat was declared vacant last February after the incumbent failed to attend the state assembly sitting for more than six months.

The Election Commission has set the state polls in Selangor, Kedah, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Negri Sembilan to be held simultaneously on August 12, with nomination day on July 29 and early voting on August 8. – Bernama, July 18, 2023.