Dr M to table Mid-Term Review
PRIME Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is expected to table the Mid-Term Review of the 11th Malaysia Plan today, which will among others address the disparity in income gap, high youth unemployment and rising living costs.
Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said since the review was an important document on the country’s direction in the next three years, it has been agreed that Dr Mahathir himself would outline the strategies.
“As the Prime Minister of the Pakatan Harapan government, which was given the mandate to restore the country’s economy, we are committed to bringing back the country for it to be respected locally and internationally,” he said during a media briefing in the Parliament.
The last time that Dr Mahathir tabled the Mid-Term Review was on the Seventh Malaysia Plan on April 22, 1999.
Azmin had earlier been reported as saying that the Mid-Term Review would seek to, among others, address the disparity of growth across the states as well as the income gap, especially for the bottom 40% of B40 group.
It would also be reviewing major national policies, including the New Economic Policy and the New Economic Model (NEM).
Azmin said tabling the Mid-Term Review would be the best platform for Dr Mahathir to clearly explain Pakatan’s policies and his vision.
“The debate will take about two weeks before my ministry and other ministries reply,” he said.
The NEM, which is the brainchild of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, was introduced in 2010 to double the per capita income in Malaysia by the year 2020.
However, it is expected that certain features of the review would be re-adjusted to suit the new government’s aspirations and direction after the 14th General Election.