By Boo Su-Lyn
SHAH ALAM, July 20 — Selangor will launch a new slogan called “Selangorku” (My Selangor) as political parties gear up to control the country’s richest state in the next general election.
Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim (picture) said the slogan will be launched this Sunday here at a festive day-long event with free food coupons and activities like futsal competitions and pony rides.
“This slogan invites all Selangor residents to be responsible and together, uphold the state government’s initiatives that are done through transparent and responsible governance,” said Khalid at a press conference today.
“After the launch, this slogan will be used for all official functions involving the state government and its subsidiaries,” he added.
The slogan appears to be designed to rally support for Khalid’s administration, just as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had hoped his 1 Malaysia would.
Khalid said Selangorku was an extension of the state’s “Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor” (Selangor’s Economy is the People’s) and “Hasil Negeri untuk Rakyat” (State Riches are for the People) programmes.
“It is hoped that this slogan (Selangorku) will increase the people’s love (for the state) as the state is the absolute right of the people,” added the mentri besar.
Speculation is rife that snap polls may be called early next year as Najib seeks to secure a mandate to push through tough economic reforms.
The PM had urged Umno in May to recapture Selangor with whatever “weapon was at their disposal.”
He said the party must put the loss of the central state to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in 2008 behind it, and rise to win it back.
PR has tenuous control over the country’s most developed state, holding 36 seats in the 56-seat state assembly and 17 out of 22 parliamentary seats.
A swing of seven state seats towards Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general election will allow the federal ruling pact to recapture Selangor with a simple majority.