THE 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), tabled at Parliament yesterday by the prime minister, signifies a very critical juncture in the country’s drive to become a fully developed nation. The PM describes it as the last lap towards arriving at Vision 2020 and a high-income economy with a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of US$15,000 (RM54,000). However, its achievement is measured in the inclusiveness of the outcome which sees a redistribution of wealth created to benefit the population as a whole while yet arriving at the statistics which would qualify Malaysia as developed. Economic development in tandem with socio-economic progress achieved by aligning the political economy of the country towards the betterment of the standard of life for all is the intention undeniable from the six strategic thrusts of the 11MP.
Its implementation being overseen by the Economic Planning Unit will inclusively enhance what is already a comparatively equitable society; by so doing it will improve the wellbeing of all; it will, too, accelerate the nation’s human capital development; and, pursue green growth to ensure sustainability and resilience. None of these will come to pass if the infrastructure is not supportive of the expansion. The fifth strategic thrust, therefore, is to strengthen the country’s infrastructure. And, finally and probably most importantly, is to re-engineer growth for greater prosperity. It is then within these desired outcomes that the policies will be designed. The economic targets are easily identifiable. 2020 and beyond sees a projected Gross National Product (GNP) at RM1.4 trillion growing to RM2.6 trillion by 2030. The GDP per capita meanwhile is expected to more than double by 2030, while the 2020 forecast stands at RM54,890. Growth is forecast at 5.6 per cent per annum. Labour productivity is estimated to increase to RM92,300 in 2020 compared with the current RM77,100. Four main cities, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, will act as growth centres each with its own master plan. Together they will help stimulate the economy by emphasising the competitive advantage of each. These will bring about the targeted GNI per capita mentioned above. A holistic approach, the 11MP enhances existing structures, ensuring that every sector will benefit. Hotwiring the whole country to the standards befitting a fully developed nation is also an imperative with urban areas enjoying a 100mbps high speed broadband access whilst elsewhere in the country Internet access is at 20mbps; this last is twice the speed promised but yet to be attained at the moment. Inclusivity, however, is more than this. Affordable housing, education and training with special emphasis on upgrading vocational courses is intended to embrace the 40 per cent low-income households. Affordable houses are yet another benefit intended to close the wealth gap. In short, it is the country’s interpretation of “fully developed” as enveloping more than just economic riches that defines the 11MP. It is people-friendly intended to produce an all-inclusive civilisation of moral, thinking and progressive people within a high-income economy where affordable healthcare and education are of excellent standards.