KUALA LUMPUR: The 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) to be tabled in Parliament on Sept 27 will outline a comprehensive policy on the country’s response towards the challenges brought by Covid-19.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the strategies outlined and to be implemented under the 12MP will cover efforts to recover and generate the economy affected by the pandemic as the country gears towards the endemic stage by the end of next month.
The 12MP, said Ismail Sabri (Umno – Bera), will also include ways for the government to address issues surrounding the country’s economic structure to ensure a more inclusive and sustainable growth.
“In addition, several measures to facilitate the country’s economic recovery process and ensure wellbeing of the rakyat will be introduced under the 2022 Budget which will be tabled in Parliament on Oct 29.
“All these proactive measures will be introduced by the government to help and protect people from all walks of life.
“The government believes that the approach and measures implemented in response to the impact of Covid-19 have helped to restore and ensure the country’s economy remains strong, competitive and sustainable for the welfare of the people,” said Ismail Sabri in a written reply in Parliament.
He was responding to a question from Nga Kor Ming (DAP – Teluk Intan) who asked the prime minister to come out with proactive measures in addressing the impact of the economy, which contracted by 5.6 per cent.
On the implementation of the State of Emergency Proclamation, Ismail Sabri described views that the proclamation failed to address the impact of the pandemic as inaccurate.
“The proclamation has brought clear benefits that enabled the government to manage the pandemic comprehensively while ensuring a balance between the importance of public health and economic sustainability.
“However, mutation of the Covid-19 virus coupled with failure by some to comply with standard operating procedures, resulted in the virus to spread rapidly, posing a challenge to the government,” he said in response to a question by Pang Hok Liong (DAP – Labis).
To another question by Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (Umno – Lenggong), Ismai Sabri said the 2030 Shared Prosperity Vision was still relevant as a policy to drive the economy, ensure fair distribution of wealth and strengthen infrastructure development and generate social wellbeing.
He said it is in line with the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia espoused by him. -NST