Selangor is aiming to establish itself as a major economic powerhouse in Southeast Asia rather than simply becoming the “Singapore of Asia”, with its sights set on the potential of cities such as Tokyo, Shanghai and Dubai.
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the state’s strong economy, technology sector, port facilities and well-developed infrastructure provided a solid foundation to establish its own economic identity in the region.
He said Selangor did not necessarily need to replicate Singapore’s development model, but could instead draw inspiration from major global economic centres such as Tokyo, Osaka, Shanghai and Dubai.
“We are not just looking at becoming Tokyo. We could also be like Osaka or Shanghai as a technology hub.
“With our strengths, we could also take inspiration from Shanghai, which has a major port, or Dubai, given the port facilities and infrastructure available in Selangor,” he said.
Amirudin was responding to a question from Sinar Harian editor-in-chief Zamri Rambli on Selangor’s direction under the Second Selangor Plan (RS-2), including its ambition to lead ASEAN, during an engagement session with media editors here on Friday.
He said comparisons between Johor and Singapore as the “Singapore of Asia” had their own context, given the strong development and economic density already established in both areas.
Selangor, however, has a different set of strengths which could form the foundation for an economic model tailored to the state’s own characteristics, he said.
Amirudin identified Selangor’s human capital and growing economic activities, driven by the skills and capabilities of its people, as among the state’s key advantages.
He added that Selangor also had a growing education, technical and vocational ecosystem that had developed organically to support industrial needs.
“We have universities that have grown organically, while the state also provides some support in technical and vocational education and has its own revenue,” he said.
Amirudin stressed that strengthening Selangor’s economy must remain a key focus under RS-2 as it would serve as the foundation for the state’s wider development.
He also urged the public to understand the bigger picture of Selangor’s development rather than judging the state government solely based on individual issues or problems at the local level.
According to him, Selangor’s position as a state with high economic activity also means public expectations and demands on the state government are equally high.
“The demand is indeed very high, and it is certainly not easy,” he added.
