Lok Sabha: The government uses ICT to identify areas that need attention

KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Oct: Government targets development gap between regions to continue shrinking throughout the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13).

Deputy Minister of Economy, Datuk Seri Mohd Shahar Abdullah said that it is implementing a targeted development strategy and monitoring economic indicators at the provincial, state and district level.

According to him, the government is using the Malaysian Compound Development Index (MDCI) as an instrument for identifying areas in need of attention and formulating interventions based on local needs.

"RMK-13 emphasizes more balanced, inclusive and needs-based development of the region.

"To identify development gaps and formulate more targeted interventions, the government is using IKPM as a comprehensive measurement instrument at provincial, state and district level", he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said this while answering the question of Datuk Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PN-Pasir Putih) on policy indicators, quantitative targets and duration of achievement under RMK-13 to reduce development gap between districts.

Shahar said that IKPM includes five main components, namely physical and planning, economic, social, environmental and governance, which are the basis for more focused development strategy planning.

"The per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) gap between regions is expected to decrease over the RMK-13 period, with the southern region targeted at 1.6, eastern region 2.3, Sabah 2.1 and Sarawak 1.0 while northern region is expected to remain at 1.7.

"For the period from 2026 to 2030, RMK-13 sets an annual average GDP growth target of 4.7 percent, while GDP per capita is targeted at reaching RM25,196 by 2030", he added.

In addition, the monthly median household income in the northern region is targeted to increase from RM5,372 in 2024 to RM6,077 by 2030, while the eastern region from RM5,058 to RM5,750.

He said the achievement of these targets will be continuously monitored through MyRMK system to ensure implementation of policies and development projects go according to plan.