Kuala Lumpur (VNA) — Malaysia officially began implementing its 13th five-year economic development plan (13MP) in 2026, with a strong focus on turning policies into concrete actions to deliver tangible benefits to the public.
Speaking at the launch of the 2026 plan in Putrajaya on January 8, Minister of Economy Akmal Nasrullah Nasir said the economic orientation and implementation principles under the 13MP are expected to shape Malaysia’s trajectory amid mounting global challenges, while supporting efforts to escape the middle-income trap by developing a productive and competitive knowledge-based economy.
According to the minister, the government is committed to ensuring that all economic development strategies under the 13MP are translated into practical, well-organised actions with real impact on people’s lives. Malaysia will also strengthen oversight of the plan’s implementation through the digitalisation of policy execution frameworks.
To achieve these goals, the Ministry of Economy has outlined three core principles for operating the economy: strict adherence to governance procedures and ensuring effective delivery to the people; implementing public policies based on the rule of law and real-world conditions rather than unfounded assumptions; and fostering an organisational culture centred on the common good.
Malaysia enters the preparatory phase for the 13MP on the back of encouraging economic indicators in 2025. Gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 5.2% in the third quarter of 2025, bringing average growth for the first nine months of the year to 4.7%. The economy remained stable, supported by a current account surplus of more than 3 billion USD. Inflation stayed low, while the labour market reached near full employment, with the unemployment rate holding steady at around 3%.
Investment attraction also posted strong gains, with total approved investments reaching 16 billion USD in 2025, up 56% year on year, creating more than 14,000 new jobs.
The Malaysian government aims to sustain robust growth, forecasting real GDP expansion of around 4%–4.5% in 2026./.
