THE 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13) will be the focal point of the Second Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 15th Parliament, which commences this Monday and runs until 28 August.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul confirmed that the plan will be tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim — who also holds the Finance portfolio — on 31 July, during the second week of the parliamentary sitting.
Framed as the MADANI Government’s first comprehensive development plan, RMK-13 will chart the nation’s strategic direction from 2026 to 2030. Anwar has previously stated that the plan will centre on empowering the rakyat through income growth, inclusive and sustainable economic reforms, and strengthened governance and public service delivery.
“The plan will also emphasise regional equity, human capital development and policy reform to bolster Malaysia’s global competitiveness, in line with the Malaysia MADANI principles,” he said earlier.
Johari added that Parliament would allocate sufficient time for MPs to debate the contents of RMK-13, urging them to engage in constructive, issue-focused discussion.
“We want the debates to be more substantive. MPs should not politicise the matter to the extent that we lose focus,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama.
“MPs must stay focused on the issue at hand — how they can help the government by proposing things that may have been overlooked. That is our role.”
According to the Dewan Rakyat’s schedule, RMK-13 will be debated over eight days beginning 4 August, with ministerial responses to follow over four days starting 18 August.
This parliamentary session is also expected to see robust debate on national policy, as it precedes the tabling of Budget 2026 in October.
In addition to RMK-13, Johari said several significant bills related to institutional reform, public service governance, and rakyat welfare are likely to be introduced or debated during the session.
With the recent enactment of the Parliamentary Services Act 2025 (PSA), which received royal assent from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim, Johari noted that efforts to reform and strengthen parliamentary functions continue to be refined — particularly the role of Parliamentary Select Committees.
“The scope of Select Committee participation must be broadened. These committees are extremely powerful, comprising both government and opposition MPs with experience, credentials, and influence,” he said.
“When discussing an issue within the Select Committee, we view decisions not as government or opposition positions, but as representing the rakyat as a whole.”
Commenting on the status of Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad — who recently stepped down from Cabinet roles — Johari confirmed that both would be moved to the government backbenchers' section.
He explained that it is standard parliamentary practice for MPs who no longer hold executive positions to be seated among the backbenchers. - July 19, 2025
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