KUALA LUMPUR – Former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has raised concerns over Putrajaya’s decision to “revise and restructure” the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), describing the move as abrupt and potentially politically motivated.
Rafizi questioned why the 13MP is being heavily revised so late, following a statement that Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan would take over the plan’s responsibilities.
“The decision to ‘revise and restructure’ the 13MP will certainly raise concerns among civil servants, market analysts tracking national policy, and the public at large,” Rafizi said in a statement on June 27.
He noted that preparations for the 13MP, which began in September 2024, had gone through a comprehensive “bottom-up” and “top-down” process involving thousands of civil servants, policy experts, ministries, state governments, parliamentarians, and industry players.
The “bottom-up” approach, Rafizi explained, comprised three layers: inter-agency collaboration through the Inter Agency Planning Group (IAPG), subject-matter input from the Technical Working Groups (TWG), and engagement sessions with state governments, the private sector, and MPs between September and December 2024. These efforts were complemented by bold, top-level policy proposals developed in parallel by the Economy Ministry and external experts.
“This was not a politically driven exercise. It was a rigorous policy development process,” he said, adding that all presentations to the prime minister and special cabinet committees were documented and even shared on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s official Facebook page.
Rafizi expressed concern that the last-minute decision could lead to a rushed revision process, given that the plan is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament in early August, with final printing deadlines just weeks away.
“If major revisions are made now, it raises the question: will there be enough time to consult the IAPG, TWG and policy experts again?” he asked. “Why is this issue only surfacing now when no such concerns were raised during the various presentations of the 13MP’s contents?”
He further warned against politicising the document, particularly following recent online debates about the 13MP and what he perceived as efforts to downplay his role in its formulation.
“I’m concerned the government is reacting to a few social media posts, including replies to Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, rather than staying the course with the reform agenda,” Rafizi said.
“Dragging the 13MP into political polemics will erode public confidence in the final document,” he added. “That would be deeply unfair to those who have worked 14-hour days for nearly a year to prepare it.”
The 13MP, Rafizi stressed, is not just an administrative guideline but a legally significant national development blueprint that spans five years and should only be amended through parliamentary debate.
Following Rafizi’s resignation from Cabinet, which took effect on June 17, Amir Hamzah was appointed to carry forward the Economy Ministry’s responsibilities. In a statement, Amir Hamzah said his immediate priority would be to finalise the 13MP, incorporating Cabinet feedback to better align it with the Madani government’s economic agenda.
While Anwar had expressed hope that Rafizi might reconsider his decision and return to Cabinet, the latter publicly reaffirmed his exit, posting a farewell note to his policy team on June 13.
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who also resigned following recent party elections, is set to vacate his post as Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister on July 4. – June 27, 2025