By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, Jan 27 — Selangor has a crucial role to play over the next two years, with Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari urging state administrators to take active measures to ensure the success of Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship and other key events.
He said that it is the collective responsibility of state administrators and elected representatives to prepare Selangor for hosting Asean delegations, which will involve 800 meetings at various levels.
He also said Selangor will serve as the “first impression” for Asean leaders and their delegations, including presidents, prime ministers, ministers, and department heads from across the region.
“With Selangor home to major transportation hubs such as KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport), Subang (Airport), and even Port Klang for those arriving by ferry, the state will be the first point of arrival for Asean leaders and delegations. Even those travelling by land routes will pass through Selangor before reaching Putrajaya.
“Authorities such as the Public Works Department (JKR), the Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS), state agencies, and local councils must ensure that everything is in excellent condition. Imagine if they arrive to find uneven roads, poorly maintained signboards, or neglected landscaping,” he said in his address during an assembly with state civil servants held at Dewan Jubli Perak at the state administrative headquarters, here today.
Amirudin also highlighted their collective role in preparing for the Visit Selangor Year 2025 (VSY 2025) campaign, which is projected to draw eight million tourists, and the success of the Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2026, a significant sporting event the state will host for the first time since 1998.
For Sukma 2026, Amirudin expressed confidence in the state’s athletes but reminded state civil servants to stay focused on ensuring the games are well-managed and run smoothly.
“If we do not excel or fall short, people might say it’s okay because we don’t have enough resources. But if we claim to be the biggest contributor to the national GDP (gross domestic product) and have the highest returns, people will have high expectations for what we can achieve.
“We need to start now because we expect tens of thousands of athletes, not to mention officials, and supporters to attend.
“We need to gather all of this and organise it within the framework and spaces available. InshaAllah (God willing), we will host Sukma 2026 in a way that will be remembered as the best Sukma, the result of our hard work” he said.
Amirudin said that this is among the reasons the state government has appointed Deputy State Secretary Dato’ Mohd Yazid Sairi as the Sukma 2026 Secretariat’s chief executive officer.
Similarly, former Astro Arena Channel manager Venu Ramadass, who has experience as a broadcasting and production consultant for the SEA Games in Cambodia 2023, has also been appointed as Sukma’s chief operating officer.
Meanwhile, for VSY2025, under the tagline ‘Surprising Selangor’, the state aims to generate an estimated RM11.7 billion in tourism receipts and create new job opportunities throughout the state.
