KUALA LUMPUR, 25 August 2025 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim underscored today that allocations under the upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) must be guided by needs-based principles rather than racial considerations, in line with the government’s commitment to fairness and inclusivity.
Tabling the 13MP motion at the Dewan Negara, Anwar stressed that the MADANI government is determined to ensure every community benefits from development initiatives—be it the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Bumiputera of Sabah and Sarawak, the Orang Asli, women, persons with disabilities (OKU), or youth. He warned against turning allocations into political polemics, arguing that such debates risk distorting the reality of socio-economic disparities.
“I am very unhappy with such polemics because they create the impression that Malays are comfortable. The same applies to the Indian or Chinese communities. So don’t argue when one community appears to receive more benefits. Allocations are based on needs, not race,” Anwar said, pointing out that the majority of Malaysia’s poor still come from the Malay community.
To illustrate the government’s inclusive approach, he highlighted the Rahmah Cash Contribution (STR) and Rahmah Basic Contribution (SARA). These programmes are distributed across all segments of society, with nearly 57% of recipients being Malays, 7.57% Sabah Bumiputera, and 6.23% Sarawak Bumiputera. The Indian community, he noted, has received significant support through STR and SARA, amounting to RM972 million, in addition to RM2.5 billion in housing allocations.
Anwar also unveiled the nine core thrusts of the 13MP, which are designed to elevate Malaysia’s socio-economic trajectory. These include social empowerment based on MADANI values, sustained support for the cost of living, fairer economic distribution, and an aggressive push to accelerate education recovery post-pandemic. The plan also commits to the expansion of affordable housing, greater emphasis on regional and rural development, and advancing high-growth, high-value (HGHV) industries. Strategic adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is another priority, alongside transforming government services to become more transparent, agile, and efficient.
He cautioned, however, that the 13MP must not be treated as a mere planning document. “It must be continuously monitored to ensure projects deliver real impact. It cannot remain just a paper plan; it must be implemented effectively and transparently,” he stressed.
For the MADANI administration, the 13MP is intended not only as a blueprint for balanced growth but also as a tangible instrument to uplift vulnerable communities and reduce inequality across the board. By rooting its allocation framework in need rather than race, the government aims to reinforce national unity while addressing the diverse challenges faced by Malaysians in different demographic and socio-economic segments.
