Tengku Amir Shah and Selangor MB's cooperation sets the standard for public development

New Straits Times

22-05-2025

The success of public infrastructure development hinges not only on sound planning and sustainable design but also on the alignment between leaders, say experts.
They believe a strong relationship between key stakeholders is vital in driving good governance and delivering impactful initiatives.
This, they said, is best exemplified by the close working ties between Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari in realising the Kompleks Sukan Shah Alam (KSSA) project.
The project would see the construction of not just a multifunctional stadium but also transform the surrounding area into a vibrant, year-round hub for sport, culture, community, and entrepreneurship.
It also aims to serve as a catalyst for Shah Alam to become a vibrant, sustainable, inclusive city and drive Selangor's progress.
Tengku Amir Shah, speaking at the handover ceremony of the Letter of Acceptance for the KSSA development between Menteri Besar Selangor Inc and Lembaran Prospek Sdn Bhd last week, said the KSSA was an integral part of his vision for a "more inclusive, forward-thinking" Selangor, and that the project took him seven years to bring to life.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia urban sociology professor Dr Novel Lyndon said alignment between leaders is key in realising such ambitious goals.
He said in the case of the KSSA, the collaboration between the Raja Muda of Selangor and the Menteri Besar exemplifies how shared vision and mutual respect between the two institutions can lead to meaningful outcomes.
"When stakeholders are aligned in purpose and values, it not only accelerates decision-making but also enhances accountability and public trust.
"This kind of partnership enables resources to be mobilised more effectively and policies to be implemented more smoothly, ultimately ensuring that initiatives are people-centric and sustainable.
"Good relationships help align different agendas towards common objectives, reducing conflicts and ensuring consistent direction in policies and programmes," he said.
COMMON GOALS LEAD TO SPEED, PURPOSE
Universiti Putra Malaysia's Assoc Professor Dr Mohd Zairul MN, an expert in housing and built environment, concurred, saying that a shared vision would benefit the people.
"When leaders share a common vision and mutual respect, major infrastructure projects can proceed with clarity, speed, and purpose. Conversely, when leaders are divided, whether by politics, ideology, or personal interest, development often stalls, and the people ultimately bear the consequences.
"Malaysia has witnessed several examples where large-scale developments were disrupted due to a lack of unity between leadership. These examples highlight a crucial reality: when development is politicised, it is the public who loses out. Delays happen, costs increase, and public trust erodes," he said.
Mohd Zairul also highlighted the key roles that both Tengku Amir Shah and Amirudin play in the realisation of the KSSA.
"In the context of Selangor, the collaboration between the Raja Muda and the Menteri Besar is more than symbolic. The Menteri Besar, as the administrative leader of the state, is responsible for turning ideas into action, implementing policies, and ensuring delivery.
"The Raja Muda, meanwhile, offers stability, wisdom, and a long-term vision that transcends politics.
"When both leaders are aligned, decision-making becomes more efficient, investor confidence grows, and the political environment becomes more stable and focused. This alignment sends a strong message that public development is a shared responsibility, not a partisan tool," he said.
STABILITY KEY TO DRAWING INVESTMENT
Prof Dr Tamat Sarmidi, deputy director of UKM's Institute of Malaysian and International Studies, said political and economic stability can enable consistent planning without too many policy changes.
"Investors emphasise government cooperation and support, particularly in ensuring their investment commitments are executed smoothly without administrative uncertainty.
"Good governance through leadership that has integrity, is stable and people-centric will ensure transparency in decision-making and ensure good fiscal management.
MODEL FOR FUTURE INITIATIVES
Lyndon, meanwhile, touched on how the good relationship between Tengku Amir Shah and Amirudin can set an example for other developments, not just in Selangor but also beyond.
"This initiative could serve as a model or template for future state-led developments due to collaborative leadership, clear alignment of vision and purpose, community-centric approach, governance and execution and scalability and replicability.
"Initiatives like this can help raise the standard for public development by showing what is possible when leadership is united, vision is clear, and the public good is prioritised," he said.
Mohd Zairul, meanwhile, said unity among state leaders is one of the most important and often overlooked foundations of successful public projects.
"When leadership is divided, we often see incomplete structures, wasted investments, and frustrated citizens.
"But when there is a common vision, anchored in the needs of the people, there is no limit to what we can achieve. In the case of KSSA, now is the time to prove that united leadership leads to united progress," he said.