KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob tabled the much-awaited 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) in Parliament today, laying out his government’s five-year roadmap to achieve a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable Keluarga Malaysia.
In his speech, Ismail Sabri said that 12MP would focus on efforts to revive the nation's economic growth after the devastating Covid-19 pandemic.
He said 12MP aims at a fair and equitable distribution of wealth among the states and population while safeguarding the environment and sustainable development.
Ismail Sabri also thanked his predecessor Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, for his initial involvement in the preparation of the draft plan for the initiative.
In his speech, Ismail Sabri said that the World Bank estimates that there was an increase in the world's hardcore poor, with an additional 97 million people in 2020, with Malaysia not exempted from the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Looking at the achievements during the 11MP period, which is between 2016 and 2020, the gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an average rate of 2.7 per cent per annum, less than the original target.
“This is due to a significant contraction of 5.6 per cent in 2020, despite the country achieving higher growth of 4.9 per cent per annum in the first four years of the 11MP. Gross national income (GNI) per capita will reach RM42,500, or USD10,100 US dollars by 2020,” he said, adding that this value is 20 percent lower than the income threshold to achieve a high-income country status.
He said that all of the strategies and initiatives under the 12MP are also in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was agreed upon by all members of the United Nations (UN) in 2015.
Ismail Sabri said that while the government aims to drive Malaysia towards a developed, high-income and challenge-resistant nation in the future, such a triumph is meaningless if there are Malaysian families who are still marginalised from the development stream.
“We want to live happily together as a family regardless of income level, religion, race and ethnicity. In implementing development, environmental sustainability should be the main agenda of the country, as it will be inherited by future generations,” he added.
Ismail Sabri also listed several visions for the five-year 12MP; targeting the national GDP growth at 4.5 to 5.5 percent per annum between 2021 and 2025, estimating the average household income to hit RM10,000 per month in 2025 and reducing the GDP per capita gap between the Central Region and Sabah to be 1:2.5 ratio, and 1:1.2 for Sarawak by 2025.
He also announced a reduction in the intensity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45 per cent to the 2030 GDP, based on the intensity of emissions in 2005, in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement.
The 12MP is focused on nine aspects:
• Boosting economic growth.
• Strengthening growth catalysts.
• Improving the wellbeing of Keluarga Malaysia.
• Strengthening public security and order.
• Eradicating hardcore poverty and bridging the income gap.
• Empowering the Bumiputera agenda and Keluarga Malaysia.
• Boost the development of Sabah, Sarawak and the underdeveloped states.
• Accelerating green growth.
• Improving the efficacy of public service delivery and ensuring effective policy implementation.
