By Nasuha Badrul Huzaini
SHAH ALAM, Jan 1 — Selangor has achieved a number of achievements in 2022, including recording the highest revenue in six years, says Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
In his 2023 New Year address, Amirudin said the accomplishments reflect the state government’s economic resilience and sustainability, which he ascribed to a variety of consistent and business-friendly policies.
“In 2022, the state administration has also tabled its five-year development plan, the First Selangor Plan (RS-1). We also continue to record an increase in economic growth, surpassing the national growth rate.
“Selangor remains the highest contributor to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) at 24.8 per cent,” he said in a statement.
With the tabling of the 2023 Selangor Budget on November 25, 2022, Amirudin said that the state government has taken the initiative to provide a comprehensive economic plan to address the anticipated economic recession this year.
“Various aspects have been taken into account including increasing the allocation for Jom Shopping vouchers, the Skim Mesra Usia Emas vouchers, allowances for head of traditional villages, Kampung Baru Bagan and Indian community heads, Quran and Fardhu Ain (Kafa) teachers and Employees Provident Fund contribution to single mothers through the Skim i-Suri programme.
“All of the initiatives were taken to ensure that the people in Selangor are prepared to face an economic slowdown in 2023,” he said.
Amirudin also noted the historic political event that occurred in 2022 when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was appointed Prime Minister to lead the Malaysia’s first unity government following the 15th general election (GE15) on November 19 last year.
“The unity government was formed from political integration to ensure the country could achieve stable administration and economic prosperity.
“Hopefully, the collaboration between the Federal government and the state government could further strengthen Selangor’s position as the economic heartbeat of Malaysia,” he added.
The Menteri Besar also pointed out that there will be more challenges this year, such as the ongoing Russian-Ukraine conflicts and the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Uncertainties and economic slowdown predicted in 2023 have prompted a bleak prospect for all of us. Therefore, the state government will always be prepared for any possibilities. Our priority is to continue the policies that would improve the state’s economic resilience. We are working to ensure various aspects such as food security, education, cybersecurity and public health are well taken care of,” he said.
Meanwhile, Amirudin said despite all of Selangor’s accomplishments, the state was still affected by tragedies and disasters.
“The massive flood that occurred in December 2021 continued until January last year. Having learned from the past, the state administration has adopted a preventative stance by staging flood simulations in September 2022 as part of the readiness for all agencies.
“And the recent Batang Kali landslide incident has devastated us all. The state government has offered our condolences to the next-of-kins of the 31 victims who perished in the incident. We also appreciate the efforts of all of the search and rescue personnel involved in the operation,” he added.
Noting the upcoming state election this year, the Selangor Pakatan Harapan (Harapan) chairman expressed his hope that the people of the state would continue to give their mandate to Harapan for them to lead the state to greater success.
“We have proven our ability to retain Selangor’s position as the backbone of the country since 2018. We also have led the way in managing the Covid-19 pandemic based on facts and science aside from continuing the Selangor Penyayang initiative through 48 people-oriented programmes.
“Admittedly, we have our flaws and weaknesses. Harapan, on the other hand, has demonstrated a political willingness to govern the state with stability and integrity as part of its determination to develop a prosperous state.
“The uniqueness of communities in Selangor needs an administration that is caring and concerned about the people’s needs, not extremism.
“We have witnessed how several social media platforms were tarnished by the extremism agenda to get support during the GE15. Selangor does not condone extremism and hate politics.
“We have a responsibility to prevent politics of extremism from destroying Selangor’s social fabric since the state is a reflection of the social climate in Malaysia.
“Therefore, it is a must for the people in Selangor to preserve harmony, unity and integration that we enjoy all these while. With the spirit of #KitaSelangor, we could live happily and peacefully while enjoying the state’s revenue and based on the nobility of the constitution,” he concluded.
