KUALA LUMPUR: An academician has called for the setting up of a new ministry or central agency to specifically monitor and coordinate the effective implementation of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) and to develop measurable milestones to ensure the plan’s long-term sustainability.
Making the call, Malaysia Institute of Transport (MiTRANS) director and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) associate professor Dr Wan Mazlina Wan Mohamed said such a body would serve as a central coordinating agency to drive long-term, whole-of-government reforms effectively.
She emphasised that annual progress reports should be published to promote transparency and track outcomes.
“Plans should not be implemented without proper oversight,” she said.
To address these issues, Wan Mazlina said that the proposed ministry or central agency would be able to consistently monitor policy implementation progress over the next decade.
“This particularly includes developing measurable milestones and conducting periodic reviews to ensure the sustainability of the policy,” she told Bernama.
She cautioned that without such a coordinating body, the implementation of development programmes under the 13MP would continue to suffer from fragmented execution, with different agencies and ministries working in silos and lacking coordination.
The absence of measurable outcomes, she added, also makes it difficult to assess a policy’s effectiveness.
“Plans may exist on paper, but without proper execution mechanisms, they risk falling victim to policy fatigue and missed opportunities, especially in responding to fast-evolving trends in mobility, logistics, sustainability and digitalisation,” she said.
As such, Wan Mazlina said the appointment of a central coordinating body is vital to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of 13MP.
Wan Mazlina said the proposed central body should serve as a coordinating agency to effectively drive long-term, whole-of-government reforms.
It should also develop a clear roadmap with defined timelines and performance indicators to ensure structured and accountable implementation across existing ministries.
“The agency would coordinate efforts across ministries and state governments, while also engaging the private sector and civil society for broader collaboration.
“Annual progress reports should be published to ensure transparency and track measurable outcomes. Most importantly, having a dedicated body would allow policies to be reviewed and adapted in response to evolving global and local challenges,” she said.
Elaborating on the transport sector, Wan Mazlina opined that upgrading Malaysia’s airports should be prioritised under the 13MP to support the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
She noted that without upgrading and modernisation of the airports, the country risks falling behind regional competitors, compromising both visitor experience and logistical capacity.
“Regional competitors like Singapore (Changi) and Thailand (Suvarnabhumi) are aggressively upgrading their airports, which is why Malaysia must do the same to stay competitive, as airports play a significant role in shaping visitors’ first and last impression of the country,” she said.
She pointed out that Malaysia should expand terminal capacity at key international gateways such as Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Penang, Langkawi, and Kota Kinabalu, and enhance immigration and customs clearance systems through automation, including e-gates and biometric systems.
In addition, she stressed the importance of supporting the development of domestic and secondary airports, particularly in Terengganu, Sabah, Sarawak, and at Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) airports.
“These upgrades are crucial to accommodate rising domestic tourism, support rural development, and strengthen air cargo services, particularly those linked to e-commerce and the agriculture sectors,” she added. – BERNAMA
