SHAH ALAM: Making decisions fast is the motto of the newly appointed Shah Alam mayor, Datuk Zabidah Safar, who is the first female to hold the post in the Selangor state capital city.
The 13th mayor of the city said her role model was IDEAS Board of Directors chairman Tan Sri Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, describing her as a prominent former civil servant.
“I like her leadership style, where she prefers decisions to be made quickly. That is my leadership style too,” said Zabidah when met by StarMetro after her swearing-in ceremony at Wisma Shah Alam this morning. It was her second day in office as mayor.
Zabidah, who was born in Rompin, Pahang, has been a civil servant since January 1995.
She pledges to prioritise Shah Alam City Council's (MBSA) core responsibilities, particularly cleanliness, as a key focus area.
She also wants to ensure continuity in initiatives from previous mayors that have been well-managed.
“The city has been well managed by the previous mayors, and its current status is satisfactory,” she said.
She added that she would assess other issues based on available data and strengthen services in line with local councils' fundamental role — to provide good service to ratepayers.
The mother of four and grandmother of two said she also wants to ensure MBSA’s budget is spent prudently, particularly on repair and maintenance works.
When asked about her hobbies, she said she enjoys jogging and other recreational activities during her free time.
Zabidah has extensive experience in financial management, industry development, strategic planning, economic planning, international relations and organisational development.
She previously held senior positions at the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI), Hulu Langat District and Land Office, and the Selangor Treasury. She returned to MITI as Finance Division director in 2011.
In 2017, she was promoted to senior director at MITI’s Industry and Trade Support Division before serving as Penang state financial officer from September 2022 until her latest appointment.
