The 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) keenly focuses on the nation’s education reform as the government completes 749 out of 1,279 projects involving new schools and upgrades to existing facilities as of June 2025.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told the Dewan negara on Monsay that the construction of schools will now be a condition for large-scale housing developments, and urban areas will see the introduction of vertical schools with enhanced security and community amenities.
The SPM will serve as a national benchmark for education policy, while PISA and TIMSS will continue to be used for international comparison. And, the government is moving toward making preschool compulsory from age five, with a focus on reaching underserved communities.
STEM, digital literacy and AI will be strengthened in the curriculum.
The Malay language will remain central, while English and other languages will be expanded, he said.
Teacher recruitment and training will be overhauled, and a National Education Council will be set up to coordinate and monitor reforms. Tertiary education will shift under the Ministry of Higher Education, with public universities receiving greater autonomy and new efforts to internationalise them.
Education policy is aligned with MADANI values, incorporating elements of spirituality, patriotism and the Maqasid Syariah framework. Programmes promoting national unity such as the National Service Training Programme will continue, and a Malaysia Harmony Charter is being drafted to strengthen interfaith and racial ties.
To improve quality of life, the government is investing in food security, affordable housing and healthcare access.
Agricultural projects are underway across several states, supported by smart farming, R&D, and improved land use. The food import system will be diversified, and quality control tightened.
By 2025, 180,000 homes have been built, with 235,000 under construction. A further one million affordable housing units are planned through schemes such as Residensi MADANI, Perumahan Penjawat Awam and Rumah Bakat MADANI.
Anwar explained that financing options will be broadened via the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme and Rent-to-Own programmes. Modern building technologies like IBS and BIM are expected to reduce costs and speed up delivery.
The plan would continue healthcare reforms to include the construction of new hospitals and specialist centres in key regions, with efforts to increase the domestic production of medicines.
The national health record system will be digitised and integrated with AI support, while pro-health taxes on tobacco, vape products and alcohol will be expanded.
The government will introduce a Climate Change Act and a National Adaptation Plan to guide its environmental response. Over RM20 billion has been allocated to flood mitigation across 103 projects, supported by AI-driven early warning systems.
“Malaysia’s national defence will be modernised through AI and integrated border protection systems, while a new immigration system will streamline entry and exit processes.
“As the country approaches aged nation status by 2048, a National Ageing Blueprint will guide policy on elder care and services. Geriatric care training will be added to TVET programmes and a national regulator will oversee long-term care systems,” Anwar said.
RMK13 also places a strong emphasis on economic equity and social justice. A shift toward needs-based support is reflected in increased allocations for all communities.
Between Budget 2024 and Budget 2025, education funding will rise from RM59 billion to RM64 billion, healthcare from RM41 billion to RM45 billion, and cost-of-living aid under STR from RM10 billion to RM13 billion.
STR and SARA aid distribution includes RM7.1 billion to Malays, RM1 billion to Bumiputera Sabah, RM800 million to Bumiputera Sarawak, and RM130.5 million to Orang Asli.
The Chinese and Indian communities each received RM972 million in cash assistance, with additional allocations for business financing and housing guarantees.
Bumiputera empowerment will be prioritised through the PuTERA35 programme and strategic inclusion in large-scale developments such as Bandar Malaysia and the Subang airport zone.
Ten high-potential Bumiputera firms will be nurtured to exceed RM500 million in value, supported by GLCs and private partnerships.
Women’s participation in the labour force will be encouraged through childcare expansion and upskilling initiatives, with a 60 percent participation target. Inclusive education will be improved through the construction of 34 new special education blocks and accessible infrastructure in new schools.
Marginalised groups, including the elderly, Orang Asli and persons with disabilities, will benefit from skills programmes, employer incentives and targeted national action plans.
Civil society will be supported with access to training and alternative financing models such as sukuk, waqf and crowdfunding.
“Malaysia aims to become a high-income nation and rank among the world’s top 30 economies by 2030, Anwar said. “A National AI Action Plan will support talent development and research, while digital infrastructure including 98 percent 5G coverage will be rolled out nationwide. A Data Commission will be established under a new national strategy to protect digital sovereignty.”
Green economy ambitions include the CREAM energy aggregation scheme, expansion of battery storage, floating solar projects, and the Sarawak–Peninsular Malaysia grid link. Nuclear energy is under consideration as a clean energy source. The rare earths industry will be developed primarily for domestic industrial use.
Carbon markets, carbon capture, and biofuels are key components of the transition. A carbon capture project will launch in Terengganu’s steel sector, and biofuel blending will be expanded in Sabah and Sarawak.
The AIR2040 plan will modernise the water sector, reduce losses and encourage reclaimed water use.
Malaysia’s maritime and blue economy will be strengthened with the development of hubs in fishing, tourism, shipbuilding and biotechnology. New port projects include Pulau Carey, Westports 2 and Tanjung Pelepas.
In agriculture, productivity gains in palm oil, rubber and cocoa will be driven by automation and R&D. The halal industry is targeted to contribute 11 percent to GDP and generate RM80 billion in exports, backed by a new Halal Commission and dedicated industrial zones.
The financial sector will explore digital currency, asset tokenisation and innovation sandboxes, with venture capital playing a central role in financing the country’s transition to a knowledge- and innovation-led economy. – August 25, 2025
