By FREDERICK FERNANDEZ and DHARMENDER SINGH, The Star
Thursday June 19, 2008
SHAH ALAM: It’s exactly 100 days since Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim was made Selangor mentri besar and it has not been easy. But the former corporate bigwig is determined to ride the storm and deliver on his promises.
He said good proposals by the previous administration would be implemented, but new approaches were needed to resolve nagging problems.
He said, for instance, that despite the controversy over the RM100mil integrated pig-farming project in Ladang Tumbok, Kuala Langat, he found that the previous government’s proposal was good and decided go ahead with it.
“The other side tried to pitch our partners, DAP and PAS, at loggerheads over the issue but fortunately sensible thinking prevailed,??? he said.
On the other hand, irregularities and unnecessary delays were prevalent in land administration and priority would be given to resolving the problems.
He also said that delivering services by councils to residents would receive attention.
“We want to make sure that we appoint only those who are service-oriented. That is why we are including professionals and NGO leaders to sit in the councils. The list of the 288 councillors will be announced by June 20.
“Complaints such as clogged drains, street lights not functioning and uncollected garbage may seem trivial but these are the most vital aspects of town management,??? said Khalid, adding that his next phase would be to go to the ground and meet residents directly to hear their grouses.
The appointment of village heads and village security and development committee members will also be done more carefully.
“We want community leaders who are committed to looking into the needs of village folk, not those who are busy playing politics. If they continue to do so, we have no choice but to replace them,??? said Khalid.
On the promises made in the election manifesto, Khalid said they were confident of fulfilling 60 to 70 of them by the end of the year while there were some which had to be reviewed.