Malaysia’s economy minister sees 2026 as a year of ‘execution’ as Anwar administration tries to lock in policy gains

Malaysia sees 2026 as a year of “execution” and “discipline,” the country’s economy minister said, as the Anwar Ibrahim administration tries to rack up policy achievements under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) ahead of elections that could come as early as February 2028.

“2026 is going to be about how we deliver RMK13,” YB Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir told Fortune ahead of the Forum Ekonomi Malaysia summit on Feb. 5. “It’s a higher chance of success compared to trying to come up with a new policy direction,” he added later. “Two years is quite a short runway.”

Malaysia must hold general elections no later than February 2028, where voters will decide whether to extend the mandate of current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan Harapan governing coalition. 

Akmal and his ministry are now pushing MyRMK, a “digital system” to track progress under RMK13. “We’re trying to address issues with a whole-of-government approach,” he said. “I’m trying to ensure that those who are supposed to deliver will be tracked, so it’s not just ‘missing in action’.”

He expressed hopes that “discipline” might give RMK13 longevity beyond any one administration, and give them “enough commitment to stick to the plan.”

Malaysia is entering 2026 on a solid footing. The country’s economy grew by 4.9% in 2025, following 5.1% growth the previous year. Unemployment fell to 2.9%, the lowest rate in a decade; the Malaysian ringgit is also at its ...