Large state Selangor woos Niche sectors to Stepping up Ng Sze Han, events cancelled the European market boost economy to go green the people person 2 3 7 10&11 14 FREE MARCH 2020 www.selangorjournal.my SELANGOR MANDATE TO SERVE Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari has given the assurance that the state administration remains resilient under his leadership with the strong show of support from the 43 Pakatan Harapan state assemblymen. He also pledged that the state government will continue to honour the people’s mandate. MORE ON PAGE 5 THE Selangor administration had formulated 60 initiatives under its Smart Smart plans Selangor Programme in late 2015, intended to fulfil the needs of its growing population. Leveraging on this, State Executive Councillor Ng Sze Han MORE ON PAGE on right track says the administration has now put itself on the right track in making sure that its vision to become Southeast Asia’s premier smart state by 2025 is achieved. 8 &9 2 NEWS Selangor Journal l MARCH 2020 One-stop cardiology centre for all By ZAREEF MUZAMMIL SERDANG - Serdang Hospital’s Cardiol- ogy Centre will be able to manage and treat patients from across the country when it opens its doors in June next year. Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the centre will be separated from the main hospital build- ing, making it easier for specialists and patients, as all services will be cen- tralised. “Serdang Hospital is a referral centre for cardiology and heart-related illnesses. “We are proud that with completion of the Cardiologist Centre, the hospital would attract those from outside (of Se- langor) and that patients can be referred for faster treatment,” said Amirudin during a working visit to the centre’s con- struction site here on March 3. The Cardiology Centre is a Federal government project developed under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) in Selan- gor, costing almost RM306 million. Construction began in March 2018 by Nadi Cergas Sdn Bhd. Upon its completion, the eight-storey building will house 262 beds. The facility will also boast a nine-storey car park. Amirudin inspects the construction work being carried out at the site State set on managing its own waste Selangor cancels all SHAH ALAM - The Selangor ad- system has been effective. ministration has plans to take “We have to make sure that our non-critical events control of the state’s own solid own enactment is suitable for Sel- waste and public cleansing man- Selangor is quite angor,” he said, adding that a draft SHAH ALAM - The state gov- state government prioritises agement due to the challenges it unique ... we copy of the enactment has been ernment has postponed sever- the health of the people and faces in managing a large popula- handed over to the Federal gov- al big-scale events in the wake will do whatever is necessary tion. have all types of ernment. of the Covid-19 outbreak in to contain the outbreak. Despite the Federal govern- “We are waiting for their com- Malaysia. “Practice good etiquette as ment’s efforts to get several re- industries here ments and we hope to get the Among the programmes stipulated by the Health Min- maining states in Malaysia to green light from them to go ahead postponed include the Selan- istry. Use hand sanitisers and enforce the Solid Waste and Pub- NG SZE HAN with our own law.” gor Land Carnival 2020 and the wear a face mask,” he said. lic Cleansing Management Act STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, Apart from Selangor, it has Selangor Job Fair 2020. Amirudin also said the Sel- 2007 (Act 672), which took ef- been reported that four other PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND Selangor Menteri Besar angor Economic Action Coun- fect in 2016, the state govern- states — Kelantan, Terengganu, Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said cil has approved the formation ment has formulated its own NEW VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT Perak and Penang — have not en- the decision to postpone or of a task force assigned to con- enactment that would cater to COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN forced Act 672. cancel events that are non-crit- trol and monitor the virus out- the Selangor populace. The Act is currently only en- ical was made after the state break in the state. State Local Government, Public and businesses here. The popu- forced in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, government took into account “The task force will be head- Transport and New Village Devel- lation of Selangor is also much Pahang, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, the views of various parties as ed by former Health Minister opment Committee chairman Ng bigger than other states … so, Melaka and Kedah. well as measures to prevent the Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad Sze Han said Selangor also has its we want to have full enforcement Former Housing and Local Gov- spread of the virus. and will be assisted by state own concessionaire, KDEB Waste when it comes to solid waste man- ernment Minister Zuraida Kama- “The decision was made fol- Health, Welfare, Women Em- Management Sdn Bhd (KDEBWM), agement. ruddin had previously stated that lowing the World Health Or- powerment and Family com- as the Project Management Com- “We have already appointed the signing of the agreement ganisation’s announcement mittee chairman Dr Siti Mariah pany (PMC) to collect rubbish and KDEBWM as our PMC, which would is important as it creates a uni- that the coronavirus outbreak Mahmud.” manage waste. make it difficult for us to comply form cleanliness policy across the is a pandemic. Precautionary Other members of the task “Selangor is quite a unique with Act 672,” he told Selangor Jour- country. measures will be implement- force include Datuk Dr Christo- state or in other words, different nal in an interview on Feb 17. However, she noted that it is up ed for those events which are pher Lee Kwok Choong, Datuk from other states. We are facing Ng said the move to enforce its to each state to find its own con- deemed critical and unpre- Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Da- bigger challenges compared to own enactment is the best way cessionaire to collect the rubbish, ventable,” he said in a state- tuk Dr Fadzilah Kamaludin, Dr other states. to ensure a clean Selangor as the so long as an efficient system is in ment on March 12. Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman “We have all types of industries existing solid waste management place. Amirudin stressed that the and Dr Yap Wei Aun. Selangor Journal l MARCH 2020 FOCUS 3 By IDA NADIRAH IBRAHIM BERLIN - The coronavirus outbreak has hit the global tourism industry hard, with many Tourism Selangor people around the world choosing to take a break from travelling. Tourism Selangor, however, is not slowing down as it remains committed to contribut- ing to the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign, while counting on silver linings also gearing up for Visit Selangor 2021. Selangor was one of the participating states set to showcase its tourism products at the renown international convention ITB Berlin (Internationale Tourismus-Börse Ber- lin) 2020, in Berlin, Germany, which was can- celled just days before it was due to open on March 4. Speaking to Selangor Journal, Tourism Se- langor general manager Azrul Shah Moha- mad said the cancellation of the convention had not hindered his team from continuing with their plans to woo the European market. He said small-scale Business-to-Business (B2B) sessions were held in Berlin with local tour and travel agencies, the media, and blog- gers, to introduce the experiential tourism packages offered through the Selangor Com- munity Host Programme. The programme, which consists of 51 pack- ages, offers the service of local tour guides 1 to expose tourists to the local community and the state’s heritage and culture. 1. Sarah (in orange) and Azrul hold up “People may not be travelling now, but they a mock camera while posing with the will be planning their future travels. There- delegates of Tourism Selangor at the fore we continued with the promotional cam- Malaysian Embassy in Berlin paigns, such as meeting with the travel agen- cies that we had contacted before arriving in 2. Tourism Selangor representatives Berlin, and had also met with local bloggers conduct B2B sessions with local tour and and media representatives, who will coop- travel agencies, the media, and bloggers erate with us on some of the campaigns we 3. (From left) Hulu Selangor District Council have. president Shukri Mohamad Hamin, Kuala “Aside from the experiential packages, Langat District Council president Mohamad there are several other tourism products that Zain A Hamid, writer Bele Harke from would attract European visitors, including Sky Beben Berlin, Azrul and Tourism Selangor Mirror (in Kuala Selangor) and Gamuda Cove Promotion and Industry Development (in Dengkil),” Azrul said during a recent inter- manager Khuzaimah Jamaluddin during view at the Malaysian Embassy in Berlin. the launch of the “Selangor Up-Close 2020: Apart from B2B sessions, Tourism Selangor 2 Europe Edition Travelogue Competition” also held a Government-to-Government ses- sion with Berlin-based Malaysian ambassador tourism and at the same time they would take to Germany, Datin Sarah Albakri Devadason, the opportunity to explore the state, do some as well as Tourism Malaysia officers in Berlin. shopping or visit theme parks and such,” he Tourism Selangor had also launched the said. “Selangor Up-Close 2020: Europe Edition Trav- The Selangor administration is targeting elogue Competition; #SelangorThroughMyL- eight million tourist arrivals this year, as part ens” during the “Meet & Greet Session with of the overall Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign. Berlin Media” held at the embassy on March 5. “I believe we will hit the target.