JOHOR BAHRU, May 17 — Investments exceeding RM80 billion and more than 60,000 new job opportunities recorded by Selangor last year reflect investors’ confidence in the state’s administrative approach and economic strategy.
Selangor Pakatan Harapan chairman cum Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the achievement has enabled Selangor to remain the state offering the largest number of employment opportunities in Malaysia yearly.
“This success is not dependent solely on the amount of investment. Rather, investors believe in the system established by Selangor, where there is a balance of checks and balances, not only in the State Legislative Assembly's sittings but also within committees, monitoring mechanisms, and other approaches.
“The government has also implemented reforms and changes through what is called an economic strategy. At one time, this approach was regarded as populist, but we were bold enough to proceed in order to help those in need and provide opportunities to those with potential,” he said while speaking at the Harapan Convention 2026 in the Persada Johor International Convention Centre today.
The Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president added that although several measures introduced by the state government in the past were considered unpopular and burdensome, they ultimately succeeded in improving public well-being.
“Just as the government introduced the restructuring of the BUDI subsidy, I also restructured the free water subsidy in Selangor.
“Alhamdulillah (God be praised), we have been able to improve public welfare and channel the savings back through the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah Programme and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah,” Amirudin said.
He noted that the Selangor and Penang administrations have also become examples for Putrajaya in efforts to ensure the nation continues to excel.
Several policies introduced by the states, including the Freedom of Information Enactment, have served as references for others as they have successfully changed the administrative paradigm.
“One of the clearest examples is our ability to transform the function of the State Legislative Assembly. In Selangor, we have SELCAT (the Select Committee on Competency, Accountability, and Transparency).
“Clearly, we have proven through these changes, which were once criticised or considered a cause of future decline and disharmony, that such reforms can succeed,” Amirudin said.
