SHAH ALAM: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) has introduced a new terminology -- “Greater Kuala Lumpur” -- in its bid to dismiss the Selangor state’s contributions to the national economy.
An affronted Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has questioned the federal government’s arrogance in naming Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Ampang Jaya and Shah Alam as part of the Federal Territory or Greater Kuala Lumpur.
“This is both strange and absurd. The term 'Klang Valley' has been substituted with the word Greater Kuala Lumpur.
“In a footnote in the 10MP, ‘Greater Kuala Lumpur’ includes Petaling Jaya, Subang and Ampang Jaya and Shah Alam.
“All these areas are within the Selangor boundaries. It is an insult to state and sovereignty. What is the federal government’s intention when it ignores using the term Selangor?" asked Khalid.
He said Selangor contributed 20% towards the national income and had every right to be acknowledged as a contributing state.
“Foolhardy to ignore Selangor'
Khalid added that the gross domestic product of the Klang Valley's five million residents was higher than Malaysia in general.
“Not to mention the fact that the number of doctors and lawyers per 100 square metre in Petaling Jaya is more than any other place in the country."
“You can’t just ignore Selangor. Let me remind Najib and his Cabinet not to make an enemy out of the Selangor people just because they voted for Pakatan Rakyat in the last election,” he said.
Recapping the details of the 10MP at the state secretariat yesterday, Khalid said Malaysia would not be able to deal with the economic crises without Selangor’s economic contributions.
“It is foolhardy of Najib to ignore Selangor simply because the people had made their choice,” he said, adding that the Cabinet was being suicidal in supporting the dismissal of Selangor citizens' contributions towards the country's economy.
On projects and programmes, Khalid said the Selangor government had applied for permission for 400 projects but to date have received no reply.
He said the 10MP has downplayed the Klang River clean-up project, local council elections and the withdrawing of water concession assets.
He also hit out at the privatisation strategy under the 10MP, which he claimed erodes the authority of local councils and gives Putrajaya monopoly over water and solid waste administration in Selangor.
“The 10MP mentions the north and east economic corridors. It also touches on Iskandar Malaysia and Sabah but has no development plans for Selangor.
“It is an outright denial of Selangor’s importance. But the central government cannot ignore Selangor because our economic value is very high,” he added.
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