13MP crucial amid uncertain times, says Fahmi
KUALA LUMPUR : Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said the tabling of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) is a 'critical milestone' in charting the country's development amid global uncertainty and rapid technological change.
Speaking at the International Connectivity Conference 2025 here today, Fahmi said the 13MP, to be tabled by the prime minister tomorrow, will shape Malaysia's response to emerging challenges, particularly in the digital and connectivity sectors.
'The 13MP is built on the Madani economic framework, guided by the principle of raising the ceiling and raising the floor.
'The aim is to grow both national income and the people's income, with a focus on high value-added industries and strengthening downstream sectors.
'You can't talk about planning the future without thinking about connectivity. We are living in a time and an age where connectivity is ubiquitous, and you have an entire new generation born into what we now call the digital age,' he said.
Separately, Fahmi said Malaysia's digital progress must go hand-in-hand with ethical responsibility, adding that technology must always be used in ways that serve humanity.
He said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum communications and direct-to-cell satellite connectivity present many possibilities, but also raise questions around ethics.
He cautioned against treating AI systems as if they possess human-like decision-making power, calling it a dangerous misconception that could undermine human agency.
Fahmi also announced that Malaysia is set to launch its first large language model – an AI model trained on massive amounts of text data to understand, generate and manipulate human language – at the Asean AI Summit this year, a move aimed at enhancing national control over AI development and ensuring responsible use of technology.
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