Opposition moots cross-party committee to draw up effective 13MP strategies

KUALA LUMPUR: The Opposition has proposed setting up a cross-party committee to examine the targets not achieved in the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) said the proposed committee would also look into more effective implementation strategies for the success of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) and beyond.

“In the spirit of transparency and accountability, Tambun (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) and the Cabinet must ‘walk the talk’ to clarify to the public what truly happened with the unachieved targets,” he said during the debate on 13MP in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Aug 4).

“There is nothing wrong with… taking a step back to reflect, assess the achievements of 12MP, and ensure we all remain grounded before new figures are presented in 13MP.

“The 13MP is a national effort to shape the future of the country. It is a five-year development plan meant for all Malaysians, not just one side or another.

“Whoever governs in Putrajaya must accept the reality that this plan is not the exclusive domain of any single political party; it belongs to all of us,” he added.

Hamzah also called on the government to clarify any compromises reached in reciprocal tariff negotiations with the United States.

He said Perikatan Nasional maintains its stance that Malaysia must trade with dignity, defending its interests and sovereignty under any pressure.

The 13MP targets GDP growth of between 4.5% and 5.5%, the creation of 1.2 million new jobs, and a gross national income (GNI) per capita of RM77,200, according to official government projections.

However, concerns remain over the plan’s viability, with questions raised about the government’s fiscal capacity to fund the RM611bil allocation without placing additional strain on the public.

Hamzah also asked if there was sufficient political will to implement meaningful institutional reforms, the effectiveness of proposed strategies in delivering social justice, and if the plan’s indicators and targets are robust enough to guide Malaysia’s progress over the next five years.