Make education a focus in revamped 13MP, govt told

Free Malaysia Today

3 days ago

Malaysia should revamp its education system to emphasise character-building in early childhood using Japan as a model, an economist said.
PETALING JAYA : Economist Ahamed Kameel Mydin Meera says the government should make education a priority to drive sustainable economic growth as it revamps the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
Kameel said development should extend beyond infrastructure and fiscal targets.
It should also be people-centric, said the International Islamic University Malaysia's economics professor.
He said there was an urgent need for Malaysia to reform its education system from preschool to the tertiary level, citing Japan's emphasis on character-building in early childhood as a model.
Ahamed Kameel Mydin Meera.
He also called for greater investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects; technical and vocational education (TVET), and digital skills including artificial intelligence.
'Malaysian students are not inferior, but they need the right coaching, values and opportunities,' he told FMT.
Kameel was commenting after the government announced that the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), originally introduced under former economy minister Rafizi Ramli, would be reworked by finance minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan.
Coming just weeks before its scheduled tabling in Parliament, the 13MP revamp has sparked questions as to whether eleventh hour changes to be made would compromise policy continuity and reflect political uncertainty.
Kameel, however, welcomed the revamp, saying previous approaches to national planning were too narrow, as they were focused largely on project spending and fiscal allocation.
'Malaysia Plans are too focused on projects. A good plan must also drive behavioural change and get the private sector actively involved in achieving national goals,' he said.
He specified that the plan should promote equitable and sustainable growth, ensure balanced budgets, and empower citizens through education and healthcare.
Asked whether the last-minute overhaul might unsettle investors, Kameel said:
'Investors are intelligent and rational. If the changes to the 13MP can bring about such results, then why would investors care if it is done by civil servants?'
Although defending the concept of five-year plans, Kameel stressed that they must be dynamic and adaptable.
'They provide a macro view of where we're heading, but they shouldn't be rigid.'
He called for regular reviews with input from all stakeholders, including investors, industries and the general public, to ensure the 13MP remains relevant and effective.
Carmelo Ferlito.
Meanwhile, Center for Market Education CEO Carmelo Ferlito urged the government to prioritise simpler reforms rather than undertake rigid central planning.
'These plans often end up as high-sounding wish lists,' he said, warning that unclear and complex measures, such as e-invoicing or the expanded sales and service tax, only burden businesses and investors.
'The less the government plans, the better. Let the people plan for themselves,' Ferlito said when contacted.