ADUN SPEAKS | The Pakatan Harapan governments of Selangor and Penang – which succeeded the previous Pakatan Rakyat administration – are now ten years old.

I believe that the policies and initiatives it has pursued has had real benefits to the people of the two states, including in my constituency, Seri Setia. I certainly believe that while, like all places, there are still challenges, Selangor and Seri Setia have improved for the better.

The community tuition programme that I co-founded, Mentari Project, has helped approximately 500 children from the low cost apartments of Desa Mentari.

Many from the first batch of them are currently enrolled in university. That alone is an achievement to be proud of. I also believe that Seri Setia is now a better place to live in.

It now boasts a host of new community facilities, including a state government-subsidised Tadika Rakyat Kampung Lindungan, an expanded community hall, the Seaport Tamil school rebuilt with new facilities in a more-densely populated area, and a new mosque. The new community library is nearing completion.

Keeping promises

The Selangor government has fulfilled the various pledges of the 2008 manifesto it was elected upon, including lifelong policies to assist the rakyat and free water to the state households.

In 2017, a healthcare scheme for low-income earners, Skim Peduli Sihat was introduced.

The Selangor of today also believes in inclusion. We believe the parents should have a choice on how and where their children are educated.

Private Islamic, independent Chinese, vernacular and missionary schools are all given assistance by the state government – initially at RM16 million a year starting in 2008, to RM24 million a year starting 2018.

In 2015, as part of the 2013 general election manifesto, Selangor also became among the first states in the country to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC). Holders of this qualification have been able to apply to our state universities, Universiti Selangor (Unisel) and Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor (Kuis).

There has also been the introduction of free foundation studies at Unisel, alongside an increase in scholarships for Selangor students, including a specific category for Orang Asal.

While the federal government is cutting spending on education, Selangor has implemented the Selangor Brain Bank scheme, where students are sent to pursue PhD in top universities abroad.

The state renewed its focus on the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields to better prepare its students for the ever-evolving career landscape.

Selangor state has also implemented a massive RM52 million TVET programme called Iktisass to provide another route for school-leavers to become skilled technical workers.

The Harapan government has also increased investments and job opportunities. General Electric, UMW and IKEA have made massive investments into Selangor, with IKEA setting up its world’s third-largest distribution centre in Pulau Indah.

Just as the global aerospace industry is focusing on the three M's globally – Mexico, Morocco and Malaysia – Malaysia’s own aerospace industry is centred in Selangor with its three S’s, Sepang, Subang and Serendah.

We have also seen the emergence of a stronger and reformed State Assembly. There has been greater female representation. The implementation of the Special Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) allows elected representatives to better hold the executive branch of the state government to account.

The State Assembly has also passed opposition motions and the opposition leader has been designated to chair the powerful Public Accounts Committee.

Opposition legislators have also received government allocation for the first time. Penang and Selangor are the only states in the federation that currently provide for this.

In 2011, Selangor also formulated the country’s first Freedom of Information legislation to demystify government.

More work to be done

In any other democracy, the opposition would welcome this opportunity to assist them in holding the executive to account, yet to justify protecting the all-powerful Official Secrets Act at the federal level, they have refused to do so.

They even refuse to take the chair of the PAC to protect their control of the same committee in Parliament.

Even as a government backbencher, I supported the campaign by local residents against the redevelopment of the PKNS field in Kelana Jaya. In the State Assembly, Harapan backbenchers often are more vocal and critical than the formal 0pposition.

Of course, more work needs to be done. The water issues affecting Selangor cannot be resolved if the federal government refuses to put politics above the people. And more can always be done to make government more accountable and accessible to the people.

However, we have come far since 2008, and have attained greater heights. The Selangor of 2018 is definitely a better, fairer and more dynamic place to live in compared to what it was in 2008.

I believe that Harapan will be able to replicate the successes it has achieved in Selangor and Penang on a nationwide scale.

The 2018 general election, which will come soon, is important. Umno/BN has placed more hurdles with the redelineation and anti-fake news law.

But people are looking to realise the Malaysian dream. Our manifesto that focuses on a cleaner government, a stronger economy and a fairer Malaysia for the many is the answer.

We must be united, work hard and capture the aspirations of the people to achieve what has never happened in six decades – a change of federal government in Malaysia.

I believe that change is an idea whose time has come to Malaysia and that the future is ours to win.

NIK NAZMI NIK AHMAD is the state assemblyperson for Seri Setia, and Pakatan Harapan and PKR Youth leader.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.