Newly-appointed Selangor economic advisor Anwar Ibrahim today attempted to win over civil servants, wooing them in a bid to ease tensions.

The Pakatan Rakyat administration's relationship with civil servants in the state has been occasionally strained.

hindraf second anniversary 251109 anwar ibrahim The former finance minister said that he would do his best to make changes in the state by gaining support from the civil servants, who play the most important role in helping to manage the state economic administration.

"Whatever small credit given to me, it is due to the full support from the civil servants at the treasury,"said Anwar in his maiden speech as economic advisor in Annexe building, Shah Alam.

Although he was the most renowned and influential opposition leader in the country, Anwar knew that he would have to work within the parameters now that he is working under Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as the state economic advisor.

'Khalid is the boss'

He said that Khalid would be his 'boss' in the state administration and assured that he would work "within the parameters as a team player".

"I want to ensure Khalid and the entire team (although) I'm Khalid's boss in PKR, he is still the boss in the state...so don't worry," said the PKR de facto leader.

Tongue-in-cheek, Anwar also said that he is worth more than a 'RM1 allowance', rebutting sarcastic remarks from former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"Someone said that I was worth RM1 and that's all the state would get, but I can assure you that we can get more, God willing," he said.

Anwar was appointed as the state economic advisor on Nov 13, giving a chance for him to implement emerging new theories of economic development.

The appointment was made in a bid to enlist a wider array of experience from within Pakatan to boost its standing as pacesetter among Malaysian states where economic development is concerned.

Not here just to improve performance

Anwar also vowed that he was appointed not only to improve performance or past policies but to make a few economic shifts.

"I believe that my friends in Pakatan know that we are here not to only improve our performance but our mandate (is) primarily to shift focus to humane economics (while being) mindful that they need to be fair and just," he said.

Management-wise, said Anwar, he has hired a personal assistant, Rafizi Ramli, a former account engineer senior manager from national oil-company Petronas "with much bigger allowance than mine".

In order to help smoothen his work, all he needed was 'a vacant space' instead of a big, furnished office, he said.

khalid ibrahim With the help he is getting, he said: "I'm optimistic that we can do this."

Although it is barely a day since Anwar moved in to the state administration, the menteri besar has already planned out several programmes for him.

"We have presented him with several projects which will help stimulate the economy and have a positive impact on development in the state.

"From here on in, we will have discussions and using our contacts' network, we will identify those capable of implementing these projects," said Khalid ( left ).

"I believe that people of Selangor will throw their support and cooperate (with Anwar)," he added.

The menteri besar also said that one officer from the Selangor Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) will be placed in Anwar's office to improve communications between the state agency and the administration.