DATUK Seri Rafizi Ramli has cautioned the government against turning the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) into a political football match, warning that the decision to revise its contents at the eleventh hour threatens to derail a complex and consultative policy process involving thousands of public servants.
Responding to a recent announcement by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas, Rafizi said he was “concerned” by the move to assign Second Finance Minister Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan the task of “reworking and revising” the plan’s contents.
“This has understandably raised concerns, particularly as it implies that the original draft—developed since September 2024—may undergo significant changes at the eleventh hour,” he said.
RMK13, due for tabling in Parliament by early August, is meant to chart Malaysia’s national development trajectory over the next five years.
Rafizi described it as “a fundamental policy document, not a political exercise,” warning that rushed revisions would undermine both its integrity and the civil service’s credibility.
The former minister outlined the extensive process behind the draft, which included multiple consultative frameworks: Inter-Agency Planning Groups (IAPG), Technical Working Groups (TWG), and Stakeholder Engagement Sessions (SLU) with state governments, MPs, and private sector representatives.
“These sessions were exhaustive and well documented. They form the basis of a bottom-up process that reflects the aspirations and expertise of a broad cross-section of Malaysians,” Rafizi explained.
In tandem, a “top-down” process involving bold and sometimes radical reforms was also developed in close consultation with the Prime Minister and Cabinet, with several rounds of briefings held from February to April 2025.
“The plan was set to make history—not just for its bold policy direction, but for being prepared in under a year without the use of external consultants,” he said, stressing that the work was entirely driven by civil servants.
With only two weeks remaining before the draft goes to print, Rafizi warned that any attempt to rewrite substantive sections—particularly those involving data and projections—risks introducing “technical errors and inconsistencies” that could weaken the plan’s coherence.
He questioned the timing of the overhaul, suggesting it may be politically motivated: “Why has this come up now, at the final hour, when no objections were raised during earlier deliberations with the Prime Minister and Cabinet?”
“I fear this may be a reactionary move in response to recent social media commentary, particularly following statements by Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil,” he added, referring to online exchanges which appeared to downplay his own role in drafting RMK13.
Rafizi maintained that the plan belongs to the people, not political figures. “RMK13 is the result of thousands of hours by countless Malaysians. To politicise it now would be a grave injustice.”
He ended his statement with a warning: “Should confidence in RMK13 be undermined, it would not just be a setback in process—it would erode public faith in governance, and in our ability to plan collectively for the nation’s future.” - June 27, 2025
