Govt invites public input on 13th Malaysia Plan, says Rafizi

SHAH ALAM: The government seeks to gather ideas and opinions from the public to formulate the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), which is scheduled to be presented in Parliament next July, says Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.

To facilitate this, he noted that smaller engagement and discussion sessions are being held, in contrast to the previous approach of a single large session.

“If it’s one big session, it is usually monopolised by government officials and elected representatives,” he told reporters after attending an engagement and discussion session on Budget 2025 with the Selangor government here.

He explained that the first group consists of government officials and leaders, while the second session will include business captains and industry players. The third session will allow members of the public, such as students and homemakers, to share their views.

The purpose of this format is to ensure that everyone is heard when the plan is developed.

“When a nation becomes a high-income nation, it is not solely based on the country’s income but also the people’s welfare and quality of life, which must meet the standards of a developed nation,” said Rafizi.

He added that the government aims to formulate the 13MP in just seven months, as opposed to the usual two-year timeline for previous plans.

Thus, he said the plan is set to present the initial draft in Parliament in July next year.

“In the past, it would take two years to prepare the Malaysia Plan, but now we want to complete it within seven months,” he said, noting that engagement and discussion sessions will be carried out throughout the country.

Rafizi emphasised the importance of the 13MP, stating that if its projections are successful, it indicates the nation’s capability to achieve high-income status.

“That is why the planning (of the 13MP) must encompass different perspectives from previous plans,” he added.

On another matter, Rafizi noted that the ringgit has strengthened due to the government’s effective moves and decisions, which have bolstered foreign investors’ confidence in the country.

He encouraged local industry players to capitalise on this positive development. Earlier in his speech, Rafizi highlighted that the ringgit has been recognised as the best-performing currency in the world over the past three months.