The 12th Malaysia Plan must prioritise science

Malaysia’s next five-year development plan, the 12th Malaysia Plan, begins in 2021. We need a well thought out plan to achieve the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 that was launched at the end of 2019. It must avoid the poor implementation that has been cited as the major weakness of most past plans.

Remaining mindful of recent events that have dealt a strong blow to global health, the plan must prepare the nation to face such disruptions in the future. Public health now stands as a major hurdle threat to development all over the world. We have seen how Covid-19 has disrupted everything in its path. World leaders grapple with how to deal with the pandemic. A few came up with their own delirious recipes for a cure. Fortunately, Malaysia pursued a more sound strategy.