SHAH ALAM, Mar 8 — Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari has urged youth to deepen their understanding of different cultures and perspectives, warning that forming views based on prejudice or misinformation could weaken unity in an increasingly complex world.
Speaking to young athletes from Selangor, activists and students from several universities, Amirudin said knowledge and understanding are essential for young people to navigate global challenges, including the rise of political extremism and ongoing conflicts.
“In today’s world, we are seeing worrying trends globally — not only wars, but also the rise of extreme politics,” he said during an iftar with activists and students at the Menteri Besar’s official residence here today.
He stressed the importance for young people to understand the wider world through knowledge rather than assumptions.
“To understand other societies or beliefs, we must rely on knowledge and understanding, not stories or rumours,” he said, adding that such an approach would help shape confident and open-minded youth.
Amirudin said Selangor has long been considered a “young state”, with a large proportion of its population under the age of 40, making youth development a key priority for the state government.
Therefore, he said the administration has introduced several initiatives aimed at improving access to education, including increasing the book voucher allocation from RM4,000 to RM10,000 beginning in 2026, ensuring more students can purchase learning materials.
He noted that the state has also introduced partial free tertiary education at selected institutions, where the government covers half of students’ tuition fees to ease the financial burden on families.
“Education remains the key to development. Through education, I believe this state can continue to progress and sustain its momentum.”
Amirudin said with Selangor’s economic contribution to the national economy continuing to grow — reaching 26.2 per cent in 2024 — sustaining this momentum would require continuous investment in youth development and education.
He also encouraged young people to remain open-minded while strengthening their own values and identity.
“When we strengthen our own convictions, we must also build connections and understanding with others so that society can continue to move forward,” he said.
At the event, Amirudin also presented special incentives to seven young men who rescued a mother and her two children in a recent accident at Tasik Biru, Kundang, after their vehicle plunged into the lake.
