Malaysia
Malaysia announces plan for 1.2 million jobs and higher incomes by 2030
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The 13th Malaysian Plan aims to generate massive job growth and impose sweeping reforms across the country within five years.
Malaysia has launched an ambitious plan to generate 1.2 million new jobs and impose sweeping reforms by 2030.
The Malaysian government has launched an ambitious RM611 billion ($144 billion) development blueprint to transform the nation into a highly advanced economy by 2030, including the creation of a total of 1.2 million jobs, increased wages, and public sector reforms.
The 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), tabled by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, covers a wide range of structural reforms to be implemented between 2026 and 2030 and is funded by a combination of federal spending, state-linked firms, and public-private partnerships.
Central to the plan is the target of 700,000 new manufacturing jobs and 500,000 new roles in the digital sector. This will be supported by upskilling and reskilling initiatives, partnerships with Amazon, Intel, and other tech companies to build Malaysia’s semiconductor and AI capabilities, and a national artificial intelligence (AI) governance framework.
To raise income levels, the government aims to increase per capita gross income to RM77,200 ($18,261) and the share of employee compensation to 40% of GDP. A benchmark living monthly wage of RM 3,100 ($733) to government-linked employees will also be enacted, along with a comprehensive wage strategy that ensures fair compensation and wage protections for workers across varying skill and education levels.
Other key aspects of the five-year plan include raising annual GDP growth from 4.6% to 5.5%, increasing private investments up to RM417.9 billion ($98 billion) annually, infusing RM40 billion ($9.4 billion) to Malaysia's public health system, and the construction of one million affordable homes by 2035.
Anwar, who is also Malaysia’s finance minister, said the 13MP is a renewed effort to realise the administration’s economic objectives and to address the rising cost of living, slow wage growth, environmental degradation, and the persistent impacts of climate change.
“With the success of this, by 2030, we will not only have great material achievements and be able to produce high-value products, but we will also have people with big hearts, living unitedly, respecting each other’s cultural diversity and having a strong identity”, Anwar said in his speech outlining the development plan at Malaysia’s parliament on July 31.
The prime minister concluded his nearly two-hour speech with a call for unity and commitment to achieve the 13MP’s societal and economic reforms.
“God willing, with a strong, unwavering commitment and determination, Malaysia will rise to global prominence, powered by values, principles, and the strength of its people,” he said.
The announcement was well-received by the Malaysian parliament, with MPs applauding and chanting their support.
Dr. Khairil Izamin Ahmad, the director of the All-Party Parliamentary Group of Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals, said the 13MP strikes a balance between advancing economic development through high-profile sectors like AI and data technology and addressing the economic realities faced by ordinary Malaysians.
"In the 13th RMK development framework, we can see that the people’s economic aspects are given focus. This is important to ensure the resilience of the community, not only in more sophisticated economic sectors but also at the levels of economic activity that are more common and familiar to the daily lives of the community,” he told the state-owned Bernama news agency.
“God willing, with a strong unwavering commitment and determination, Malaysia will rise to global prominence, powered by values, principles, and the strength of its people,” he said.
The announcement was well-received by the Malaysian parliament, with MPs applauding and chanting their support.
Dr. Khairil Izamin Ahmad, the director of the All-Party Parliamentary Group of Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals, said the 13MP strikes a balance between advancing economic development through high profile sectors like AI and data technology and addressing the economic realities faced by ordinary Malaysians.
“In the 13th RMK development framework, we can see that the people’s economic aspects are given focus. This is important to ensure the resilience of the community, not only in more sophisticated economic sectors but also at the levels of economic activity that are more common and familiar to the daily lives of the community,” he told the state-owned Bernama news agency.
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