By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, Dec 5 — Education must become the new foundation of Selangor’s development to ensure a skilled workforce capable of driving social and economic mobility, in line with the state’s high income status, said Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
He said the state’s sustained growth and competitiveness hinge on developing human capital aligned with the demands of complex industries.
“In past dialogues and speeches, be it during budget presentations or major programme launches, I’ve consistently stressed that Selangor’s progress must be anchored in knowledge and education.
“In my discussions with local and international investors, a common concern is whether we have the human resources that meet the demands of investment-driven development.
“To address this, education must become our new foundation for resilience and sustained contribution,” he said in his officiating speech at the Dialog Shah Alam programme held at Universiti Selangor (Unisel) here today.
Amirudin said while other states may focus on sectors like foreign direct investments (FDI), agriculture and industrial expansion, Selangor’s success hinges on ensuring its workforce matches the needs of investors and industry players.
Acknowledging the importance of gaining an economic edge, Amirudin said Selangor can rely on three major institutions to advance knowledge and skills development, namely Unisel, the Selangor Research Institute (SRI), and the Darul Ehsan Institute (IDE).
He also praised the collaboration between the institutions to host initiatives such as Dialog Shah Alam, which gathers experts to discuss critical issues.
“Unisel offers formal academic pathways, IDE provides independent insights to assist the state government, and SRI focuses on specialised areas such as climate adaptation policies and economic frameworks. Together, they create a comprehensive platform for research and development.”
Dialog Shah Alam was held for the second time today, with the first edition taking place in 2019. It was halted following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Amirudin expressed hope for the dialogue to become an annual event, bringing in experts to address critical and contemporary issues affecting both the state and the nation.
This year, the dialogue featured former Bank Negara Governor and Unisel Pro-Chancellor Tan Sri Muhammad Ibrahim, who delivered a lecture on current national and global economic challenges.
Also present were state executive councillor for Islam and innovation Dr Fahmi Ngah, IDE executive director Prof Emeritus Datuk Mohammad Redzuan Othman and SRI director Ammar Gazali.
