Social Pillar
FROM GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT TO GROSS DOMESTIC PROSPERITY:
REFRAMING GROWTH FOR EVERY RAKYAT
YAB Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari stands at the helm of Malaysia’s most developed state as the 16th Menteri Besar of Selangor and the Member of Parliament for Gombak. Driving an overarching agenda rooted in inclusive prosperity, his expansive state portfolio encompasses finance, economic action, government digitalization, education, and human capital development. Appointed to the state's highest office in June 2018, his current mandate is built upon a robust track record in state executive leadership, having previously championed youth, sports, entrepreneurship, and rural development.
Bringing a critical social-development lens to public administration, his governance approach is deeply informed by his academic foundation in Human Development from Universiti Putra Malaysia and his early experience as a program coordinator at Institut Kajian Dasar. Today, he remains steadfastly committed to elevating the liveability and potential of every rakyat. Through targeted initiatives to strengthen education and TVET, eradicate poverty, and modernize digital public services, Dato' Seri Amirudin actively cultivates a highly productive, equitable ecosystem designed to secure equal opportunity for all.
Abbas Ramlee stands at the forefront of national financial empowerment as the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB), a wholly-owned Unit Trust Management Company of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB). In this pivotal leadership role, he is driven by a singular, overarching mission: to catalyze greater public participation in unit trust funds and unequivocally uplift the financial lives of Malaysians across generations.
His current mandate is built upon a formidable 19-year trajectory of strategic influence within the PNB ecosystem. Prior to helming ASNB, Abbas served as the Chief Strategy Officer for PNB, where he spearheaded the formulation of the organization’s long-term strategic blueprints, most notably driving the transformative LEAP-6 (2025-2027) master plan. Throughout his extensive tenure, he has consistently shaped corporate direction from multiple vantage points, holding critical positions that range from economic analyst and Senior Manager of the Office of the President & Group CEO, to Senior Vice President of Corporate Planning & Strategy.
This deep financial and strategic acumen is complemented by a strong analytical foundation, having graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical & Electronics from the University of Nottingham. As a recognized authority in the investment sector, Abbas holds a Capital Market Services Representative License (CMSRL) under the Securities Commission Malaysia. Expanding his governance footprint, he actively serves as a Non-Independent Executive Director of ASNB, while simultaneously holding directorships at Jewel Digital Ventures Sdn. Bhd. and ASNB Wakalah Sdn. Bhd., further cementing his commitment to institutional growth and financial innovation.
Edmund Cheong is a driving force in advancing equitable and innovative social protection systems, currently serving as the Deputy Chief Executive of Strategy and Corporate at PERKESO. Beginning his transformative journey with the organization in 2005, he pioneered the milestone Return to Work Program a critical initiative dedicated to helping injured and ill workers regain both employment and dignity. Building upon this foundation, he has spearheaded the sweeping modernization and digitization of PERKESO’s services, ensuring that vital social safety nets remain accessible, transparent, and inclusive for gig workers, informal sector employees, and individuals navigating employment transitions.
Beyond operational enhancements, Edmund plays a pivotal role in shaping long-term national policy. He was instrumental in developing Malaysia’s National Blueprint for Social Wellbeing and actively contributes to the Malaysian Social Protection Council (MySPC) to secure sustainable reforms that address economic uncertainty and an aging population. His deep strategic expertise is also recognized on the global stage, where he serves as the Chairman of the International Committee of the IAIABC and an accredited expert with the International Social Security Association (ISSA). Guided by the steadfast belief that "social security must be a force for equity, not just an obligation," Edmund continues to design comprehensive systems that empower individuals to lead meaningful and secure lives.
Professor Datuk Norma Mansor is a distinguished academic and policy expert whose career is defined by visionary leadership across economics, social protection, and public policy. Currently serving as the Director of the Social Wellbeing Research Centre (SWRC) at Universiti Malaya since 2013, she has successfully positioned the institution as a premier interdisciplinary research hub focusing on aging and social wellbeing. Her profound academic roots at Universiti Malaya where she formerly held key leadership roles as the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administration and Executive Director of the International Institute of Public Policy and Management (INPUMA) culminated in her prestigious appointment as an Emeritus Professor in 2018.
Bridging the gap between academic rigor and practical governance, Professor Datuk Norma has played a pivotal role in shaping Malaysia’s overarching national strategies, notably serving as the Secretary of the National Economic Advisory Council (2009–2011). Her specialized expertise is highly sought after on the global stage, driving high-level consultancy initiatives with prestigious organizations including the World Bank, UNDP, OECD, and UNICEF. A formidable force in institutional leadership, she served as the President of the Malaysian Economic Association (2018–2024) and actively contributes as the Vice Chair of the Impact Investment Board Malaysia and a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia. Recently honored as CUEPACS’ Woman Icon of the Year 2024 and appointed as an HRD Corp Thought Leader in 2025, she remains a central figure in advancing human capital, equity, and workforce development both locally and abroad.
Aira Azhari is the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), where she leads the organisation’s strategy, fundraising and external engagement. Trained in law, she holds an LL.B. from the University of Liverpool and an LL.M. in Public International Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Since joining IDEAS in 2016, she has led its Advocacy and Events team and Democracy and Governance research unit, advancing work on political and institutional reforms with civil society, academia, government, parliamentarians and political parties. Her work is closely aligned with IDEAS’ focus on democracy and governance, public finance, economics and business, and social policy, with published contributions on political financing reform and youth aspirations, including economic exclusion and wage inequalit