Agriculture Minister Noh Omar should not get "too excited" about becoming the next Selangor menteri besar, to the extent of even throwing wild allegations about the Selangor Economic Development Corporation (PKNS), Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson Azmin Ali says.

NONE Azmin said Noh's claims that a PKNS subsidiary was selling RM150 million in shares to a non-bumiputra company was unfounded.

As a PKNS board member, he said, no proposal to sell assets was ever discussed, nor was such a matter ever referred to him.

"Thus, in Noh Omar's excitement to become the menteri besar, he should not twist facts and make allegations like this," he told the state assembly today.

Noh, who is Umno Tanjung Karang MP, is reportedly to have said that Worldwide Holdings is disposing its shares to non-bumiputera companies.

NONE However, Azmin explained that the share disposal was part of a "corporate initiative" to streamline some of the activities of PKNS under a wholly-owned subsidiary, PKNS Private Real Estate Company (Prec), which the Ministry of Finance had approved on Sept 12.

"So don't attack PKNS. Don't make allegations that we are selling assets to the non-bumiputera.

"All these are merely to play with Malaysian Malay sentiments ahead of the coming general election," he said.

Empty talk

During Azmin's debate speech for the Supply Enactment 2013, Sekinchan assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim also interjected to ask Azmin to comment on Noh.

NONE "As a minister of agriculture from Selangor, he should give statements that are insightful ( bernas ) for developing PKNS, not ‘facts' that are unfounded. Bukan fakta, tetapi auta (Not facts, but empty talk) to attack PKNS," he said.

Ng ( right ) also lamented that the minister has yet to respond to his allegations regarding paddy seed supply contracts, and raised issue with other allegations against Noh in his capacity as a minister.

"This minister is involved in all sorts of scandals. He should be asked to resign," he said.

Azmin replied that in developed nations, Noh would have long resigned.

"However in a democracy, power is in the hands of people. If he does not want to resign, the people will take him down," he said.

Later when Azmin was explaining the government's efforts in providing affordable housing, Subahan Kamal interjected and asked if he would be a better menteri besar than the incumbent Khalid Ibrahim.

Azmin replied, "On Nov 21, 2012, before the deputy speaker (Haniza Talha) at 2.47pm, I declare my undivided loyalty to Khalid Ibrahim's leadership," he said to a loud applause, while Ng could be heard laughing aloud.

The question was apparently a jibe at gossips of an internal rivalry between Azmin, Khalid, and their supporters, with the former tipped to takeover a menteri besar.

Related stories

'Cheap land for Umno used for the community'

RM300mil bridge project to divert S'gor water woes

Politics of revenge - no bridge over troubled waters

Batu Caves condo is 'Satu Lagi Projek Barisan Nasional'

Selangor MB's 'art of war' over MPS