KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia June 27, 2025 – Former Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli has expressed alarm over a directive to “rework and overhaul” the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), following a statement by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. The announcement indicated that Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim has tasked Finance Minister II, Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, with revising the core elements of the RMK13 draft, originally developed since September 2024.
In a statement today, Rafizi cautioned that the last-minute overhaul could disrupt the meticulous, non-political process behind RMK13, a critical five-year policy document that binds national policies, programs, and targets. “The Malaysia Plan is the glue that holds the nation’s aspirations together, transcending changes in government,” he said, noting that any amendments typically require parliamentary approval.
The RMK13 preparation began with an inaugural conference on September 5, 2024, followed by a comprehensive “bottom-up” approach to gather stakeholder input through three channels: Inter-Agency Planning Groups (IAPG), Technical Working Groups (TWG) focusing on specialized areas like Govtech and fiscal reform, and Engagement Sessions (SLU) with state governments, industry players, and MPs from September to December 2024. Details of this process are available at https://rmk13.ekonomi.gov.my.
Concurrently, a “top-down” effort led by the Economy Ministry and experts crafted bold and radical policies to drive structural reforms. These proposals were presented to the Prime Minister between February and April 2025 and discussed twice in special Cabinet meetings to secure consensus.
Rafizi highlighted the tight timeline, with RMK13 on track to be the fastest-prepared Malaysia Plan, taking less than a year compared to the usual 18 months to two years. Notably, the plan was developed entirely by civil servants without external consultants, leveraging their expertise.
With only two weeks left before the final document must be sent for printing—ahead of its planned tabling in Parliament in early August 2025—Rafizi warned that a major overhaul risks being rushed. Key chapters, including data and analyses, would need rewriting, potentially bypassing further consultation with IAPG, TWG, and experts.
He questioned why the need for a “rework” emerged at this late stage, given no prior concerns were raised during his presentations of RMK13’s core elements. Rafizi speculated that the decision might be a “reactionary” response to recent social media exchanges, particularly netizen replies to Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, which appeared to downplay Rafizi’s role in RMK13’s development.
“RMK13 is a national document shaped by thousands of Malaysians from all walks of life,” Rafizi stressed. “Dragging it into political polemics risks undermining public confidence in the final plan and does a great injustice to the civil servants who have worked tirelessly for over a year.”