September-October. 2025 |
13TH MALAYSIA PLAN 11
CHARTING THE COURSE: Following its presentation, the 13th Malaysia Plan( RMK13) is now the blueprint for Malaysia ' s journey toward an AI nation.
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AI-powered Malaysia
Malaysia ' s 2030 vision is to become an inclusive and sustainable AI nation Digital transformation calls for an inclusive and ethical AI ecosystem AI-based solutions will be applied in key sectors
BY ZAFIRAH ZAFRUDDIN
MALAYSIA is recalibrating its economic direction with the 13th Malaysia Plan( RMK13), a five-year economic blueprint for national development from 2026 to 2030. Introduced by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the plan serves as the implementation roadmap for the government ' s Madani Economy framework.
Themed ' Redesigning Development '( Melakar Semula Pembangunan), the RMK13 is a transformative plan rather than a conventional one. It is guided by the principles of Maqasid Syariah and supported by a total of RM611 billion in investments.
Malaysian Minister of Digital Gobind Singh Deo underlined the plan ' s importance in a press release, stating: " The RMK13 is a crucial instrument for achieving the MADANI Government ' s goal of making Malaysia an inclusive and sustainable AI Nation and a regional digital technology producer by 2030."
The RMK13 focuses on two key objectives of the Madani Economy framework:
■ Raising the ceiling through accelerated economic growth.
■ Raising the floor by improving the people ' s standard of living.
The two objectives are interdependent; economic growth provides the resources to fund social initiatives, while a healthier, better-educated population drives further economic expansion. This dynamic is key to ensuring long-term, sustainable development of an AI nation.
RAISING THE CEILING
The RMK13 aims to ' raise the ceiling ' by transforming Malaysia from a manufacturing-based economy to a value-creating and tech-driven one. This strategic shift is
Gobind Singh Deo defined by several key focus areas:
■ Innovation & Local Tech: Driving research, development, commercialisation, and innovation( RDCI) efforts to produce more ' Made in Malaysia ' products and services.
■ Skilled Job Creation: Moving the workforce up the value chain through the creation of high-skill and highpaying jobs.
■ Enhanced Competitiveness: Driving innovation and global competitiveness through the Business Digital Identity Recognition initiative, digital twin technology, and AI-driven predictive analytics to improve efficiency.
■ Foreign Labour Dependence: Automating and upgrading industries with advanced technologies to reduce reliance on low-skilled foreign labour.
■ Accelerating Tech Creation: Speeding up the development and commercialisation of new technologies through better research and development( R & D) and innovation ecosystems, supported by AI-based simulation modelling.
■ Talent Development: Future-ready talent development spanning all stages of education and training. Leveraging AI and data analytics to predict skills demand and identify individual potential.
These efforts are expected to drive the manufacturing sector at an annual rate of 5.8 per cent. At the same time, gross import growth is expected to slow to 6.1 per cent per year, a significant drop from the 14.4 per cent recorded in the early years of RMK12.
By 2030, Malaysia is expected to achieve a positive trade balance of RM116.3 billion. Additionally, maintaining the current account surplus at 2.2 per cent of gross national income( GNI).
RAISING THE FLOOR
Under RMK13, AI is recognised not only as a technological advancement but as a strategic enabler integrated across key domains to ' raise the floor.' It ensures that all Malaysians can benefit from the nation ' s progress.
The plan highlights six priority areas where AI will be harnessed to promote inclusive growth:
■ Social Mobility: Lowering the cost of essentials such as food, healthcare, and housing, while ensuring fair wages and targeted social support through digital platforms and data analytics.
■ Inclusive Education: In addition to financial aid, scholarships, and loan schemes, E-learning technologies will further broaden access to education and skills training, including Technical and Vocational Education and Training( TVET).
■ Improving Healthcare Access: Expanding affordable healthcare options via the Rakan KKM initiative, insurance / takaful options, and nationwide hospital, clinic upgrades, and healthtech innovations.
■ Sustainable Low-Carbon Economy: Accelerating Malaysia ' s green transition through green technology innovation and initiatives like the Time-of-Use( ToU) Scheme and energy efficiency incentives.
■ Disaster Preparedness: Improving the accuracy, speed, and coordination of disaster response through advanced forecasting technologies.
■ National Defence: Strengthening security with AI-powered surveillance of borders and real-time cyber threat detection.
By integrating AI into these areas, the RMK13 aims to develop more effective policies and position Malaysia as a future-ready nation. These initiatives are designed to improve Malaysia ' s standing in the Human Development Index( HDI), with the aim of reaching the top 25 by the time the Madani Economy has been in effect for 10 years.
STRENGTHENING GOVERNANCE
The RMK13 also emphasises good governance through digitalisation, with GovTech positioned as its key enabler. Leading the digital transformation of public services, GovTech will coordinate efforts across all government ministries and agencies.
" Its role will be pivotal in deploying a comprehensive digital public infrastructure( DPI), enhancing system interoperability, and accelerating the rollout of end-to-end online services," explained Gobind.
Furthermore, the RMK13 features a flagship initiative to establish a singlewindow government service portal. This platform will be accessible via the MyGov mobile application and the malaysia. gov. my portal. The platform will require a login with MyDigital ID, ensuring secure digital access.
This initiative aims to have 95 per cent of Federal Government services transitioned to a fully online service model by 2030. It also seeks to position Malaysia among the top 20 in the UN ' s e-Government Development Index( Online Service Index). @ ND