The 12MP’s inclusivity dimension


PRIME Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had revealed the much-anticipated five-year blueprint the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) last Monday.

In his speech when tabling the plan, Ismail Sabri focused on nine areas to meet the 12MP goals by 2025.

The plan details a strategic direction for the development of the country, and focuses on three key themes: resetting the economy, advancing sustainability, and strengthening security, well-being and inclusivity.

These themes will be catalysed by four policy enablers and 14 game changers to resonate with the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 and United Nations Global Goals 2030, which promotes a fair, equitable and inclusive economic distribution across all income groups, ethnicities, and regions to deliver a decent standard of living for all Malaysians.

Under the 12MP, the total development expenditure allocation is estimated to be RM400 billion. This is an increase of 61% compared with the 11MP, where RM249 billion was allocated for the 2016-2020 period.

The federal government revenue is forecasted to reach about RM272 billion in 2025. Furthermore, the government is targeting an increase of gross national income per capita of RM57,882 and a 2.8 percentage point increase in the compensation of employee share of gross domestic product (GDP), compared with the 11MP target of 37.2% by the end of 12MP.

While some quarters are sceptical of the 12MP targets, the proposed initiatives, frameworks and projects in the plan drew enthusiasm among the long-overdue beneficiaries of the five-year government blueprint.

The 12MP emphasises the importance of inclusivity in policy planning and implementation exercises by relevant ministries. Some observations are in order, regarding implementing inclusiveness in the plan for the 2021-2025 period.

First, this notion of inclusivity is broadened into catalytic initiatives – not only to reduce income disparities and uplift livelihood, but to also optimise the potential of less-developed states to achieve meaningful outcomes by 2025.

For example, for Sabah and Sarawak, the federal government is committed to intensifying socio-economic development by strengthening infrastructure, improving access to social services, catalysing inclusive growth, and deepening cooperation between federal agencies and state governments.

Admittedly, however, there have been setbacks in implementing more expansive and holistic development plans in Sabah and Sarawak from the federal government.

Thus, it is timely for the federal government to have a proper strategic blueprint in the 12MP for Sabah and Sarawak to promote greater socio-economic well-being, including tackling issues such as high poverty rates, lack of accessibility to basic infrastructure and services, lack of access to economic opportunities and low investment.

These plans for Sabah and Sarawak are projected to reduce the 1:2.5 and 1:1.25 GDP per capita gap with the central regions in 2025.

Second, there should be more granular measures to address the social deprivation of specific target groups, comprising children, youth, women, seniors, person with disabilities and families.

These groups have been facing multifaceted challenges, such as high unemployment rates, gender inequality, inadequate safety net, and lack of a supportive environment. The impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have further exacerbated these vulnerabilities.

In implementing the 12MP, more concerted efforts and measures should be in the pipeline to empower them by increasing income and living standards to uplift their well-being.

In addition, there should be more effort in terms of wealth creation among Malaysians.

While more attention has been given to improve the well-being of Bumiputeras, the government must also consider more comprehensive measures and incentives to benefit Malaysians across all ethnic groups. After all, it is only through greater social and ethnic equality that our economy and society can truly progress towards becoming a developed nation.

Nevertheless, the efforts under 12MP undoubtedly promote inclusivity, in line with the international frameworks of the United Nations Global Goals 2030 and national aspiration of Shared Prosperity Vision 2030. But, ultimately, they reflect the Malaysian Family notion introduced by the current administration. – October 8, 2021.

* Naufal Fauzi is a senior researcher at the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research. He can be reached at [email protected].

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.



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