SELANGOR Mentri Besar lost his cool with the state’s opposition chief over the latter’s constant badgering of Air Selangor and the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) management at the end of the morning session of the Selangor state assembly on Wednesday (March 6).
Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, also a Sungai Tua assemblyman, was initially cool as he replied to Azmin on raising water tariffs when the water operator had other options.
However, he lost his temper the moment Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (PN-Hulu Klang) alluded that PKNS had lost sight of its original mandate and has now become a bailout agent for companies and big "towkays" (business tycoons).
Lashing out, Amirudin said the term "bailout" was very misleading.
"Your legacy actually leaves behind the problems I am solving today. In fact, when you were in Selangor Mentri Besar, you did nothing to solve these problems either," said Amirudin.
Azmin continued to interrupt Amirudin despite being told not to do so.
In the ensuing war of words and wills, Dewan Speaker Mohd Kamri Kamaruddin tried to placate the situation by telling both parties to take their seats, but a heated Amirudin insisted that it was his floor and continued to defend his stand that the measures he had put into place for PKNS was to prevent it from suffering further losses.
As he continued to speak, Amirudin gradually regained his composure to thank Azmin for his comments.
Azmin, who was not about to let Amirudin off the hook so easily, said there were many other issues he was still eager to address and would continue to do so after lunch.
Amirudin declined, saying he had another issue to debate in parliament later and could not continue with the debate.
Right after exiting the hall, Amirudin, in a press conference, assured the media that PKNS remains financially stable.
The Mentri Besar defended his position by saying that the word “bailout” used by Azmin, who was former International Trade and Industry Minister, was inaccurate and misleading.
"We have dealt with all the past issues, and as a result, PKNS will no longer have to bear the burden of debt and high operating costs," he said.
