SHAH ALAM, Aug 8 — The principle that “no one will be left behind” remains the state government's key guiding principle in formulating the Second Selangor Plan (RS-2) 2026-2030, which focuses on human capital development, poverty eradication, and the overall well-being of the people.
State executive councillor for human resources, poverty eradication, and Orang Asli and minority affairs Papparaidu Veraman said the approach will ensure that every segment of society benefits from development, without anyone being left behind in the state's progress.
The achievements of the First Selangor Plan (RS-1) demonstrated that the state government's inclusive policies were on the right track, with Selangor's median monthly household income rising to RM10,726, surpassing the original target of RM9,290.
He said the relative poverty rate had also declined to 8.5 per cent, while the absolute poverty rate fell from 1.7 per cent to 0.9 per cent.
"Nonetheless, we cannot be satisfied with these achievements. Through RS-2, we have set higher targets for 2030, namely increasing median household income to RM14,500 a month, reducing the unemployment rate to 2.2 per cent, and supporting the state's economic growth at a rate of 6.1 per cent," Papparaidu said in a statement yesterday.
These targets will be achieved through 23 initiatives under RS-2's Fourth Mission, which emphasises developing a productive, inclusive, and competitive workforce.
He added that the issue of skills mismatch is a major challenge which must be addressed to ensure Selangor's workforce genuinely meets the needs of current and future industries.
As such, the establishment of the Selangor Employment Skills Council is seen as a strategic step towards coordinating industry needs with educational institutions, training providers, and policymakers.
"Simultaneously, the proposed establishment of Selangor Technical and Vocational Education and Training Corporation will strengthen the coordination of technical and vocational training through the Selangor Technical Skills Development Centre (STDC), making it more structured, high-quality and relevant to the needs of the future economy," Papparaidu said.
In the efforts to increase people's incomes, talent development must go hand in hand with strengthening entrepreneurship.
Through the Selangor Platform (PLATS) programme, the state government aims to provide 150,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) with training, guidance, digital skills, and management support by 2030.
Meanwhile, the GROW and DANA PLUS programmes will expand access to financing and markets, helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses more sustainably.
On poverty eradication, he said the state government's approach had shifted from providing assistance alone towards more comprehensive economic empowerment.
RS-2 also introduces the Selangor Dignified Living Index to assess the effectiveness of assistance programmes based on actual improvements in recipients' lives.
"Recipients who remain able to work will be matched with skills training, employment opportunities, and income-enhancement programmes so that they can break out of the cycle of poverty sustainably," Papparaidu said.
Elsewhere, the Orang Asli and minority communities will continue to receive attention to ensure they benefit from Selangor's development as well.
"This means that Orang Asli and minority communities will not only receive assistance, but will also be given broader access to education, skills training, employment opportunities, entrepreneurship, and economic development so that they can share equitably in the state's progress," he said.
The councillor noted that RS-2 is not merely an economic plan, but a framework for building a fairer, more inclusive, and competitive Selangor.
The plan's success will be measured not only by economic growth figures but also by increases in people's incomes, reductions in poverty, quality employment opportunities, and the ability of all segments of society to share in the benefits of development.
Yesterday, Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari tabled RS-2 during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting, which aims to make Selangor the first state in Malaysia with an economy worth RM500 billion, provide the people with high-paying employment opportunities, and narrow the economic gap across all nine districts, among other aspirations.
