Highest cash reserves in 28 yrs, but Muhyiddin says S'gor being 'tortured'

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The signs are becoming unmistakable, snap polls are around the corner. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin himself let slip the information during a speeh in Selangor, admitting that he was "campaigning".

Amid accusations he was in denial mode for saying the people were being 'tortured' under the Pakatan Rakyat administration, Muhyiddin expressed confidence that BN would recapture Selangor in the next general election, widely expected to be held in November.

"No factual basis. Selangor folk are happy there is no more corruption and cronyism for the first time ever. No one disputes that MB Khalid Ibrahim is clean. Why would Selangor go back to the old corrupt and rotten system under the BN," PKJR vice president N Surendran told Malaysia Chronicle.

The DPM had tried to rally the troops, who have been demoralized by a sparkling performance from Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim's team. He also insisted BN did not forsake the state even though it had fallen to the Pakatan in the 2008 general election.

"A man told me, 'I want the election to be called soon so I can vote for BN because I feel tortured living under the rule of Pakatan in Selangor'. Sorry, I'm campaigning..." Muhyiddin told a BN Backbenchers' retreat.

"If they don't pay attention to the social needs, of health needs or in any area at all, BN remains committed to fill this void left by Pakatan as best we can," said Muhyiddin.

High cash reserves in 28 years

However, despite the bravado, BN faces an uphill batttle. Khalid has just announced his state government had managed to increase its cash reserves by some RM200 million in the first six months of this year, bringing the total to RM1.1 billion.

The amount is the highest achieved by the state over the past 28 years, said Khalid.

Since taking over from BN, Pakatan has propelled the state to register a significant increase in investment amounting to RM35 billion between 2008 and June 2011.

“This means the present Selangor state government has not only succeeded in increasing the revenue but also in implementing effective and efficient financial management," Khalid told during a royal dinner on Thursday.

"From the onset, I had misgivings in shouldering this responsibility given by the majority of the people in Selangor who wanted change, in the sense that the state’s profits can be distributed and enjoyed in a fair manner to the multi-cultural citizens of this state.”