PETALING JAYA: Malaysia achieved only one of the six objectives under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) by June 2025, despite launching the five-year 13MP the following month.
According to the Auditor-General’s Report 1/2026, of the six objectives, only experimental research expenditure met its target, achieving 60.97% against the 50% goal through the government’s research, development, commercialisation and innovation (R&D&C&I) programmes.
The other objectives that remain unmet are Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP); Business Expenditure on R&D (BERD); the number of researchers per 10,000 of the labour force; a top-20 ranking in the Global Innovation Index (GII); and patent applications by citizens.
“Overall expenditure performance reached 87.4%, but only 34.1% of projects were physically completed.
“The low GERD performance, weak project implementation and shortcomings in governance and monitoring have affected the effectiveness of the programmes, despite the significant allocations invested by the government to strengthen the R&D&C&I ecosystem,” the report stated.
It also noted that all three indicators under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9.5 remained unmet.
The Economy Ministry, meanwhile, said efforts were being made to ensure targets are met based on the strategies and initiatives outlined under the 13MP.
“The ministry also acknowledges that the National Guidelines for R&D Fund Management have yet to be developed.
“The implementation of this matter and strengthening of the R&D&C&I ecosystem are being carried out in accordance with the decisions of the National Economic Council dated Dec 5, 2024,” it said.
