As 4.8 million Selangor residents celebrate developed state 27 August 2005, in step with 48 years of independence, they are able to tick off a string of achievements that include sterling economic success, the near eradication of squatters, low infant mortality, good health services and universal education.

Credit goes to the Federal Government for its push to modernize Malaysia and directly help Selangor to deliver what social commentators describe as "The First Product of Vision 2020"

Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's fresh economic initiatives, a renewed focus on human capital and boost to the agriculture sector, have given new impetus to Selangor's development.

Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Dr. Mohamad Khir Toyo, says Selangor has created a benchmark for itself. "We are declaring that we have achieved a certain level of progress and we are now entering a new level of development. This means we will be doing things more efficiently and certainly, more effectively.

"It's all about a better quality of life and allowing everyone in the state to realize their full potential. The basics in both hard and soft infrastructure are already in place, along with many opportunities to excel, amidst a civic and supportive environment". His comments are reflected in the seemingly endless economic opportunities in Selangor, where manufacturing, services, agriculture and other sectors make up 25 per cent of the country's ecenomy.

It has risen to become Malaysia's most industrialized state, with 60.8 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) contributed by the industrial sector, providing employment to 36.5 per cent of the state's work force. The services sector is a close second, contributing 36.5 per cent and employing 60.8 per cent of the state work force.

These figures owe much to the high levels of foreign and domestic investments which pour into Selangor. From year 2000 to 2004, total investment was RM28.54 billion, creating some 100,000 manufacturing jobs. All these add to the state's GDP hitting close to RM228 billion with Selangor residents enjoying per capita income of RM48,900, measured on the purchasing power parity (PPP) method. It is generally accepted that a per capita income exceeding RM38,000 (US$10,000) places a state or country at developed level.

Such a robust state economy is backed by efforts to boost the quality of life for Selangor residents, including relocating thousands of squatters to public housing schemes. With just about 35 per cent left to be relocated from from an original figure of 49,000 people, Selangor would have completed its Zero Squatters programme by early next year.

Meanwhile, health services are cited for being especially successful in reducing infant mortality rate in Selangor to 3.7 per 1,000 live births, a figure that outstrips Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland.

And when Selangor children go to school, they can enjoy a teacher to student ratio of 1:19 for primary schools and 1:16.8 for secondary schools, which is on par with Japan.

The figures seem to sum up Selangor's arrival in 2005 as Malaysia's first developed state, exactly 48 years after the country declared its independence.