13MP Structural Issues Not Addressed

 

The 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), covering the period from 2026 to 2030, is a comprehensive blueprint that aims to transform Malaysia's economy and society. While it sets out ambitious goals and strategies, many have raised concerns about structural issues that are not be fully addressed or could hinder the plan's success.

 

Source: https://www.thevibes.com

 

Key structural issues that may not be adequately addressed by the 13th Malaysia Plan include:

 

·        Underemployment and Low-Quality Jobs: While the plan aims to create new, high-value jobs, it may not effectively tackle the issue of underemployment, where a significant number of workers are in insecure, low-paying jobs that do not utilize their skills (2 million currently). That’s also related to education.

 

·       Quality of Education: Quality is low in national schools – PISA scores attest to that. Brightest talents work abroad, over 280,000 professionals in Australia, US, UK and Canada. Only 4,673 talents are back between 2011 and Jun 2025. We love mediocrity and not meritocracy.

 

·        Inadequate Retirement Savings: Concerns have been raised that the plan does not have strong enough measures to address the problem of inadequate retirement savings for a large portion of the population, a long-standing issue.

 

·       Healthcare Underfunding: The plan's allocation for healthcare, while substantial, may not be sufficient to fully address the underfunded public healthcare system and its systemic challenges.

 

·   Environmental and Governance Gaps: While the 13MP mentions the green economy and sustainability, some environmental groups are concerned about a lack of firm legal and financing commitments to protect nature and biodiversity. There are also concerns about a lack of accountability and transparency in the implementation of projects, with the risk of patronage and inefficiency.

 

·        Execution Deficit: A recurring criticism of past Malaysia Plans is the gap between ambitious goals and their actual implementation. We meet 70% of targets!

 

·        GLCs and GLICs: Preponderance of their role in the economy. Over 42% of the economy is controlled by GLCs and GLICs. NEP objectives are met but we continue to talk about the shortfall – all the time.

 

·        GERD below 1%: The Gross Expenditure for Research and Development to GDP has been at (or below) 1% of GDP. Many other countries have it at 5% or at least 3%. South Korea and Israel are at the high end. 13MP suggests 2.5% of GDP by 2030. But this was the target to achieve by 2025. So much for plan and execution!

 

·        Plight of Indians: The B40 Indian group contributes 72% of all gangsters in the country. The pittance allocated is not going to change their plight. Apa lagi India mahu? They want education, employment, entrepreneurship, empowerment, and an endowment (like ASN/ASB). Is that too much to ask?

 

In summary, while the 13MP is seen as a step forward with its focus on digitalization, sustainability, and social well-being, its success will hinge on its ability to overcome long-standing structural weaknesses, particularly in governance, social protection, and environmental policy, which some critics believe are not fully or adequately addressed in the current blueprint.