The mid-term period of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP)

Full period: 2006 -- 2010 period

Basically the report just repeats the Misi Nasional with few touch-ups.

From the beginning, the Plan clearly fails to predict and to take into account the upward trend in global commodity prices. It is obvious that the Government is caught off-guard with the current external shocksat the moment.

Prospect for the second half is gloomy. No constructive plan has been tabled to face challenges in the next two years of the remaining period except the announced RM30 billion increase in the allocations.

No clear policy on the Malay language in national schools, except for promise to strengthen the position of Chinese and Tamil languages in the Sekolah Kebansaan.

What I can say, more pro-active measures need to be taken. A decisive body like MTEN with regular meetings and effective actions as during the 1997 financial crisis need to be formed. Welfare agenda is critical. Direct assistance to help the needy is an urgent step as the poverty level of Malaysians at the moment, has increased significantly.

Read the Report speech