Malaysia must be bold enough to think strategically and develop plans that go beyond a single term of government, economic cycle or even a generation to ensure the country remains strong over the next 100 years, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said.
He said the country must not focus solely on resolving current problems but should anticipate future changes and prepare early for challenges that may lie ahead.
According to Amirudin, strategic thinking would allow the country to identify its strengths and weaknesses, make difficult choices and build the necessary capabilities before a crisis forces it to act.
“The question is, what decisions do we need to make from now so that when we reach the centennial mark, Malaysia and Selangor will be united, innovative, sovereign and fair to all its people?
“We must be bold enough to look ahead and shape a future that goes beyond one term of government, one economic cycle or one generation,” he said.
Amirudin was speaking at a Perdana Talk programme held in conjunction with Malaysia Day 2026 at the Al Jazari Hall, Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, on Tuesday.
He said the Malaysia that eventually reaches 100 years of age must be built on the decisions and actions taken by the present generation, including efforts to strengthen unity and ensure the country’s diversity remains a national strength.
He said Malaysia’s history showed that the country was formed through negotiations, consensus, power-sharing and a willingness to live with diversity.
“Differences do not necessarily lead to division. Instead, they can become a strength if managed fairly, maturely and with respect,” he said.
Amirudin said one of the major challenges that needed to be addressed was the growing suspicion and prejudice among Malaysians.
He said differences in identity, including religion, groups and generations, should not be magnified to the point of undermining efforts to build a united Malaysia.
“If differences continue to be exaggerated or deepened without sufficient understanding, they can become a threat to unity.
“Younger generations need to understand previous generations, but older generations must also recognise the understanding and changes taking place among the younger generation,” he said.
Amirudin added that building a confident nation remained a shared responsibility and was not a process that could ever be considered complete.
He said every generation would face new challenges, requiring the country to continuously update its approach based on knowledge, information and accurate data.
“A nation is constantly being built and renewed. Every generation will encounter new resistance and challenges,” he said.
