KUALA LUMPUR: The 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), set to be tabled in Parliament on July 31, 2025, will be in line with the government’s direction and the MADANI Economy framework, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
Amir Hamzah, who is currently carrying out the duties and functions of the Economy Minister, stated that his current task is to ensure that all ministries involved are aligned in planning and implementing the 13MP.
"All ministries are the implementing agencies once the 13MP is tabled and approved. So, at the moment, we want to review (the 13MP) and align it with the MADANI Economy framework, which then will be implemented by the ministries,” he said during the "Keluar Sekejap” podcast session on YouTube, hosted by Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan.
On June 27, Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, who is also Secretary to the Cabinet, announced that Amir Hamzah has been given the responsibility of carrying out the duties and functions of the Economy Minister with immediate effect, following the vacancy in the position after the resignation of the former minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli on June 17.
According to Shamsul Azri, the matter was agreed to by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and was discussed at the Cabinet meeting on June 25.
In the announcement, Shamsul Azri also stated that Amir Hamzah’s primary responsibility was to review and revamp the core framework of the 13MP draft, which is set to be tabled in Parliament on July 31.
During the podcast session, Khairy also asked Amir Hamzah about the objective of revising the 13MP draft.
Amir Hamzah explained that the process of drafting the 13MP took a considerable amount of time, and discussions between the Ministry of Economy and all other ministries were held on multiple occasions.
"When we reach this stage, we have to ensure that what we finalise in the 13MP is in line with the current government’s direction,” he said.
He added that coordination among government ministries is crucial to ensure that the plan does not remain just a plan on paper.
"If the ministries do not embrace it in full, the 13MP will only become a mere plan on the table. We do not want that to happen,” said Amir Hamzah. - Bernama
