Reports and views from academics on the implementation of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) will be submitted to the Cabinet, said Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
Fahmi, who is also the MADANI Government spokesman, said the government welcomed academics’ involvement in assessing and providing constructive criticism on the implementation of the country’s development plan.
“I believe the input, recommendations, views and constructive criticism that can be provided by our academic colleagues are important to be considered not only by the Ministry of Economy, but by every ministry.
“So, I welcome the efforts by INPUMA (Institute of Public Policy and Management), Universiti Malaya, and I have asked that, if possible, they prepare a report which I can subsequently submit to the Cabinet,” he said.
He said this when met after officiating the 13th Malaysia Plan Public Discourse Conference: Direction and Challenges organised by INPUMA here today.
Elaborating, Fahmi said the implementation of 13MP projects must have good governance and be free from corruption to ensure that allocations were used effectively for the benefit of the people.
“In my speech, I stressed that we need to ensure that, as every Malaysia Plan is implemented using public funds, the implementation of projects under the 13th Malaysia Plan, in particular, must ensure proper governance, with no abuse of power or funds, as well as no kleptocracy or corruption and so on,” he said.
On the Budget to be tabled on Friday, Fahmi said that on behalf of the Ministry of Communications, he hoped the Ministry of Finance would consider a new focus relating to the development of the ‘orange economy’.
“This is because we have established an Orange Economy Council to look into the development of the creative economy, covering film, animation, music, as well as arts and culture.
“So, on behalf of the Ministry of Communications, there are several matters that we have put forward and we hope they will be considered by the Ministry of Finance,” he said.
The conference aimed to obtain perspectives from various stakeholders on current economic and social issues affecting the country and the people, as well as identify concerns and needs that should be addressed in the implementation of the 13MP.
