During the recent swearing-in ceremony for Selangor’s 56 assemblymen, a young woman named Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif informed media personnel about the establishment of a secretariat for the 22 Perikatan Nasional assemblymen. Sasha Lyna, a lawyer, revealed that she would be managing the secretariat, which will conduct research and prepare materials for Opposition assemblymen to generate effective debates and questions during Selangor state assembly sittings. Later that day, Opposition chief Datuk Seri Azmin Ali announced the formation of the secretariat and the establishment of a shadow exco line-up composed of Perikatan elected representatives, mainly from Bersatu and PAS.
Azmin emphasized the importance of ensuring that the voice of the people is clearly heard by stating, “We at the Opposition bloc make a significant number and hence, we are determined to ensure all our representatives play effective roles.” The Opposition’s shadow exco line-up includes Azmin, Taman Medan assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin, Gombak Setia assemblyman Hilman Idham, and Permatang assemblyman Nurul Syazwani Noh, among others.
It is worth noting that the shadow exco line-up focuses only on high-profile areas and has divided responsibilities accordingly. For example, Dr Afif will specifically shadow public health, environment, and climate change, while the official portfolio, held by Pakatan Harapan’s DAP assemblyman Jamaliah Jamaluddin, covers these areas as well as green technology. The functioning of the shadow exco line-up is yet to be determined, but it is expected to be a lively and noisy affair.
The Selangor state assembly has become more active and eventful after five years of relatively smooth proceedings due to a weak and small Opposition following the 2018 general election. Even the defection of a few PKR members after the 2020 Sheraton Move failed to significantly impact the strength of Pakatan in the state assembly. Prior to the 2008 General Election, when there were only two Opposition members, the Selangor state assembly’s dynamics were quite different.
During that time, the state assembly sessions were short and without much dissent, although the two Opposition assemblymen worked diligently to question and challenge the state government. The most notable occurrence during that period was the suspension of Datuk Teng Chang Khim for 30 months, which only added a slight hint of controversy. However, the situation completely changed after the 2008 elections, breathing life into the Selangor state assembly for two terms until the 2018 General Election, when the Opposition was greatly weakened.
Currently, the Selangor state assembly has 22 Opposition members, with 12 from Bersatu and 10 from PAS, ready to actively engage and challenge the state government representatives. The presence of Azmin, Dr Afif, and Hilman, renowned for their vocal nature and strong debating skills, further indicates an increase in dynamism within the state assembly.
Considering Dr Afif’s experience as an executive councillor in Penang prior to joining Bersatu with Azmin, Jamaliah, who is shadowed by Dr Afif in the exco line-up, will need to ensure she stays well-informed and prepared to counter any arguments. Additionally, state government exco members must be accessible day and night to address media queries, as the Opposition’s shadow exco members plan to look into media accessibility.
Sasha Lyna, who has already established a rapport with journalists covering the state assembly, will work zealously to ensure the voice of Opposition assemblymen is heard on every issue discussed. In the past, gaining immediate reactions from state exco members regarding matters related to their portfolios was challenging, with delayed statements often issued. Therefore, state exco members must become more accessible to the media to prevent the shadows from stealing the limelight.
The upcoming five years will play a crucial role in determining Selangor’s political direction and outcome in the next general election, which is expected to happen by 2028. The state exco members and the Opposition will be closely watched as they navigate this window period. It feels like only yesterday when the 2008 polls resulted in Barisan giants being toppled and Selangor falling into the hands of the Opposition. Time flies indeed.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
