By Media Selangor Team
SHAH ALAM, Sept 26 — In a changing world order marked by global challenges and uncertainties, Selangor is emerging as a blueprint for stability, resilience, unity and growth, says Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
This is driven by the strength of its people and diversity, similar to Asean, he said when delivering a speech at Peking University in Beijing yesterday, as part of his official visit to China.
Amirudin said while the state may not be rich with natural resources, each citizen remains its most valuable asset.
"The diversity present in Selangor is a snapshot of what Asean is. With people of different ethnicities or beliefs ... we are committed to peace in Selangor as that is the prerequisite for any modern society to continue to grow.
"Selangor and Asean are nearly one and the same, and in my conversations with younger leaders in Southeast Asia, I have seen their commitment to peace, growth, accountability, and efficiency.
"This is the commitment I have held in my administration in Selangor, and this is the potential we have in Asean."
Amirudin’s remarks come amid a shifting global order and escalating violence in various parts of the world, including the genocide in Gaza, which he said was supported by the United States’ provision of weapons to Israel.
This, he said, has created a major trust deficit for the US, with countries globally turning to each other seeking stability, leadership, and a moral voice to end the killings and bring justice.
"Southeast Asian countries for example, unite under the Asean bloc to affirm a united agenda where peace and stability are the main aspiration."
He said the days where countries can attempt to assert their influence by bullying other nations into submission are gone, replaced by a new order where power and influence are distributed among multiple nations or blocs.
In this regard, Amirudin said stability is the key towards consistent economic growth, maintaining people's prosperity and happiness, and creating resilient nations.
In Selangor, the Menteri Besar noted how the state weathered multiple crises over the past five years, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 political crisis, and the 2021 major flood, through the collective action by government agencies and residents.
"As the head of the state government, it is my firm belief that government stability is paramount for economic progress and social prosperity."
With a population of over seven million people, Selangor, said Amirudin, does not operate in isolation, with room to maximise its geostrategic location along the Malacca Straits, home to the 10th busiest port in the world and representing the main gateway in Southeast Asia’s 680-million strong population.
He also described Selangor as the economic heartbeat of Malaysia, contributing 26.2 per cent to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024.
"Just over three years ago, Selangor was the first ever state in Malaysia to outline a medium-term socioeconomic plan spanning five years, combining the strategy of the government and interests of the private sector to build a state which was not only economically advanced, but liveable and sustainable.
"In under three years, I am confident Selangor will be Malaysia’s first RM500 billion state," he said.
