Selangor Development Plan Criticized for Neglecting Rural Areas

The implementation of the second Selangor State Development Plan (RSK2) is facing criticism for an excessive focus on urban development, raising concerns that it may exacerbate the divide between metropolitan areas and the state's more rural districts. Constituents in areas such as Kuala Selangor, Sabak Bernam, and Hulu Selangor, which remain largely dependent on agriculture, feel neglected by a plan perceived as prioritizing city growth over their needs.

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I believe one of the main reasons young people leave their villages is that quality job opportunities are too concentrated in the cities. If economic opportunities are created in rural areas, young people will stay in their villages, local economies will continue to thrive, and household incomes will increase.

Nurul Syazwani Noh, representing Permatang, argued that development plans should be evaluated not just by their targets but by their tangible benefits to all citizens, regardless of their location. She highlighted that a primary reason for young people leaving their villages is the concentration of quality employment opportunities in urban centers. Syazwani believes that fostering economic opportunities in rural areas would encourage young people to stay, thereby sustaining local economies and boosting household incomes.

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The median household income in Kuala Selangor is only around RM8,046, while in Sabak Bernam it is around RM6,941. That is much lower than the median household income for Selangor, which is RM10,726.

Data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia supports these concerns, showing significantly lower median household incomes in northern Selangor compared to the state average. Kuala Selangor reported a median income of RM8,046, while Sabak Bernam was even lower at RM6,941, starkly contrasting with Selangor's median of RM10,726. Syazwani urged the state government to establish specific targets for reducing income disparities between districts, rather than solely focusing on the statewide median income.

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Therefore, I believe that the State Government cannot just set median income targets at the state level. Instead, the State Government must also set targets for reducing income disparities between districts.

Furthermore, the plan's execution is criticized for bureaucratic inefficiencies affecting rural businesses, particularly homestays. Despite the state recognizing the Northern Agro-Tourism Corridor, homestay operators face persistent challenges with licensing, land status, local authority requirements, and complex procedures. Syazwani cautioned against applying urban development standards to rural economies, emphasizing that village homes with multiple rooms should not be equated with high-rise hotels, nor should agro-stays be judged by the same criteria as urban commercial developments.

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The state government itself recognizes the Northern Agro-Tourism Corridor. But why is it that until today, homestay operators are still facing various bureaucratic problems?