Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has cautioned against turning development allocations under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) into a racial debate, stressing that distribution is based on need and not ethnicity.
Presenting the motion at the Dewan Negara, Anwar explained that the Madani government’s priority was to ensure that all communities — Malays, Chinese, Indians, Orang Asli, as well as natives of Sabah and Sarawak — benefit equitably from government initiatives. Women, youth, and persons with disabilities were also included in this inclusive approach.
He said any attempt to portray allocations as racial favoritism risked misleading the public. The majority of poor households in Malaysia were Malay, and therefore, assistance often reflected that demographic reality. As an example, he pointed to cash aid under the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), where nearly 57 percent of recipients were Malays, while significant portions also went to Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputeras, and the Indian community received RM972 million in assistance alongside RM2.5 billion in housing guarantees.
The Prime Minister also highlighted nine key thrusts of the 13MP, ranging from cost of living measures, social empowerment, fairer economic distribution, and education recovery to regional development, housing, competitiveness in high-growth industries, artificial intelligence adoption, and improved governance. He underlined that the plan would be closely monitored so that it becomes an action-oriented framework rather than just a policy document.
On wages, Anwar pointed to structural reforms including the rise of the minimum wage from RM1,200 to RM1,700, progressive wages for private workers, and a new remuneration scheme for public servants. He added that government-linked companies had set a new benchmark by offering RM3,100 as a minimum wage, urging profitable private firms to follow suit.
The plan also emphasises strengthening education, particularly STEM and digital literacy, while empowering local communities to decide their own development projects through the Sejati Madani initiative. Additionally, heritage conservation was identified as a pillar of the plan, with projects already underway to restore landmarks such as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Merdeka Square.
Concluding his presentation, Anwar underscored that the 13MP was not merely an economic blueprint but a vision for unity, prosperity, and dignity, urging senators to endorse it for the 2026–2030 period under the theme “Redrawing Development.”
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