SHAH ALAM, Nov 9 — The upcoming 2026 Selangor Budget, to be tabled on Friday (November 14), is expected to strengthen the state’s public welfare agenda further while supporting economic growth, said state executive councillor for local government and tourism Dato' Ng Suee Lim.
One of its main priorities is to ensure that Selangor remains a major contributor to the national economy while maintaining the well-being of its people.
“Selangor continues to move forward by uplifting its people in the context of economic progress. At the same time, public welfare remains the main agenda,” he told Media Selangor.
Ng added that the public's positive response to various welfare initiatives reflects strong support for the state government, encouraging continued efforts to maintain existing assistance programmes, particularly for targeted groups.
“I hope all assistance can be continued for all the people of Selangor, especially aid for those in need and other target groups.
"Several components under the First Selangor Plan (RS-1), including the development of areas such as the Integrated Development Region in South Selangor (Idriss) and the Sabak Bernam Development Area (Sabda), will be continued to drive the state’s economic growth.
“The upcoming Second Selangor Plan 2 (RS-2), which will be presented by Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari in the budget, will focus on digitalisation, smart cities, artificial intelligence (AI), and attracting more new investments,” he said.
Concerning his portfolio’s focus within the budget, Ng said special attention will be given to strengthening the efficiency of local government service delivery by establishing the Selangor Metropolitan Corporation (SMC).
This will ensure that the local authorities operate more effectively through digital systems, greater responsiveness, and reduced bureaucracy.
“We will ensure that the Speed Selangor initiative is realised, helping industries save time and costs to remain competitive amid global challenges,” he said, noting that strengthening the semiconductor and AI sectors will also be emphasised to maintain Selangor’s position as the national economy's driver.
On tourism, the Sekinchan state assemblyman said Selangor aims to attract 10 million visitors in 2026 in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
“The new theme 'Tak perlu jauh, Selangor kan ada' will be used to draw more visitors to the state. We will continue to support the national campaign to attract more tourists to Malaysia, especially to Selangor,” Ng said.
The state government is also working to obtain United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) World Heritage recognition for the Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark by 2028.
“A special committee comprising academic experts has been established to conduct research and prepare documentation in accordance with the strict standards set by the international body.
“This recognition has the potential to become a major international tourism attraction, bringing economic benefits to local communities. The process to obtain Unesco recognition is highly stringent and not easy, as it requires exhibitions and expert endorsements.
“Therefore, it is not an easy task, and we are requesting specific allocations for this effort in the upcoming budget,” he concluded.
