KUALA LUMPUR: The National Statistical System (NSS) will be strengthened, while the use of data and artificial intelligence (AI) will be expanded as key pillars in decision-making to ensure the success of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) 2026-2030.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (pic) said a data-driven approach is increasingly critical to addressing global challenges, including economic uncertainty, geopolitical shifts, digital transformation, climate change and rapid technological advancements like AI.
He said data and official statistics are no longer mere sources of information, but strategic national assets that enhance public service delivery and bolster national resilience.
“The success of the 13MP requires high-quality, timely data with integrity to support more effective policy planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, delivering a greater impact for the people,” he said in a Facebook post reported by Bernama.
Fadillah said Malaysia continued to record encouraging economic performance, with gross domestic product expanding by 5.4% in the first quarter of 2026, demonstrating the effectiveness of development policies formulated based on data.
He added that the NSS must be enhanced through strategic collaboration across ministries, state governments, the private sector and academia.
