By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, Nov 20 – The Selangor government will conduct a mid-term review of the First Selangor Plan (RS-1) next year to gauge whether it will be able to achieve its target of contributing 30 per cent to the national economy by 2025.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said amid global economic challenges, a review is necessary to identify if any adjustment is required, particularly as the state adopts a forward-thinking approach towards its fiscal planning.
“I understand the concerns regarding the goal set by the state government (to contribute 30 per cent of the national gross domestic product). Perhaps we may not reach our target on the dot, perhaps in 2026 instead of 2025.
“That is why the mid-term review of RS-1 is necessary and it will likely be done in June or the second sitting of the State Legislative Assembly next year.
“It also needs to be said that RS-1 was formulated before the unforeseen Ukraine-Russia tensions and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, not just in Gaza, that have an impact on the global supply chain,” he said in his winding-up speech for the 2024 Selangor Budget.
Previously, on October 5, Amirudin had said that the review process of RS-1 is expected to begin after the launch of the 2024 state budget, which was tabled on November 10.
He said the mid-term review would focus on creating and offering high-value jobs to Selangor residents and implementing several high-impact projects, such as a new rail infrastructure from Klang to Kuala Selangor and Sabak Bernam, and developing a fully digitised third port in Pulau Carey.
Meanwhile, Amirudin emphasised today the need for Selangor to embark on ambitious, high-impact initiatives to spur economic growth.
He referred to these as “moonshot” projects or catalytic economic initiatives, citing examples like the Integrated Development Region in South Selangor (Idriss), Sabak Bernam Development Area (Sabda), and Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG).
He also reflected on the economic trajectory of past administrations in Selangor, noting that the year-on-year economic growth had been modest, ranging between 0.1 and 0.3 per cent.
However, Amirudin noted a significant uptick in economic activity post-Covid-19 pandemic after the launch of RS-1 in 2022, with Selangor contributing 25.5 per cent to the national GDP that year, up from 24.8 per cent in 2021.
Amirudin’s remarks came after state opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali questioned whether Selangor could achieve its intended targets, considering the sluggish national and global economies.
