Tabling of 12th Malaysia Plan deferred to 2021

PETALING JAYA: The tabling of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) in Parliament this coming August has been deferred to January next year, says Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Mohd Zuki Ali (pic).

“Based on initial plans, the 12MP document was expected to be tabled on Aug 6.

“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Cabinet decided on May 6 that the tabling of the 12MP will be deferred to early next year, ” he said in a letter issued to government ministries, departments and agencies.Attempts were made to verify the authenticity of the letter, dated May 29, which was confirmed by a senior government official.

Mohd Zuki also cited several reasons for the delay in tabling the 12MP. Among them included the recent change and restructuring of the government in March 2020 and current economic uncertainties.

“It is appropriate that each ministry, federal and state government agencies are given more time to re-evaluate the policies and strategies under the 12MP, in line with the aspirations and current policies which are to be the backbone of the Perikatan Nasional government, ” he said.

He added that the revised 12MP also took into account post-Covid-19 recovery plans, which were currently being drafted and expected to be completed mid-year.

He also noted any forecast under the 12MP was to be in line with the upcoming Budget 2021.

Mohd Zuki said the 12MP needed to take into account the nation’s fiscal situation for the period between 2021 and 2025, in light of the new norm, including a drop in the nation’s oil revenue.

He said the government would gather feedback from relevant stakeholders to ensure the completion of the 12MP document.

Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the matter was brought up for discussion during a Cabinet meeting.

“We discussed a few changes made on my ministry’s proposal which was delivered to the Finance Ministry. I’ve held two discussions and brainstorming sessions on the proposal, ” he said.

But Wan Junaidi said he could not remember the date the tabling of the 12MP had been deferred to.

The former Pakatan Harapan government was to have tabled the 12MP during the March sitting.

Pakatan’s version of the 12MP was to have focused on economic empowerment, environmental sustainability and social re-engineering to further crystallise the implementation of the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.

The 11th Malaysia Plan was tabled by former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak on May 21,2015, aimed at realising the Vision 2020 goal through development of people-based economy and capitalbased economy with the implementation of high-impact projects.