12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review will be unique and evaluated in its entirety - Rafizi Ramli

KUALA LUMPUR - The mid-term review of the five-year 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) must be evaluated in all its entirety because the assumptions or plans made prior to the Covid-19 pandemic have rendered a number of things obsolete, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said.

According to him, it can be said that this mid-term review is a new plan for the country.

He also described the 12MP’s half-term review, to be presented in Parliament on Sept 11 (Monday), to be something "unique".

"We are now in the 12MP (2021-2025). If before this, the mid-term review was only to evaluate its performance, this time the mid-term review will be unique because of two things,” he said in a video clip posted on his Facebook page today.

He said firstly, the Covid-19 pandemic, which occurred between 2020 and 2022, has rendered much changes and the ideas or plans made before the pandemic are now obsolete.

"So, it will be as if this mid-term review will be a new plan for the country," he said.

He said secondly, the mid-term review will be presented by the Unity Government and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has presented the MadanI Economy policy framework with dual targets.

Rafizi said the first is to raise the ceiling value of the Malaysian economy which means higher wages, better technology and value content.

"These will improve the economic performance of the country,” he said.

He said the other target is to raise the floor level of the Malaysian economy.

"We want to make sure that if our economy grows more rapidly and there is more wealth produced from this economic growth, the distribution is fair to all,” he said.

He said as an example, over the past few months, the government has focused more on the masses instead of a few rich people.

"Although it may not be as grand as before (not a project that involves tens of billions ringgit), the amount of money and allocation is distributed to the people, for example the progressive wage policy, we can feel the economic overflow reaching to most people via higher level of wages,” he said.

Rafizi said he is confident that if the matter is properly reviewed, it will give clarity to all Malaysians.

"For each of the focus outlined in this mid-term review, we will ensure its benefits will be explained to the people, the private sector and the government," he said.

The mid-term review of the 12MP (2021-2025) measures how far targets have been achieved in the first two years as well as the challenges affecting its aspirations.

It also reviews strategies, initiatives, programmes and projects to achieve development goals as well as an inclusive and sustainable economic growth. - BERNAMA