The National Oversight and Whistleblowers Centre (NOW) has dismissed the 11th Malaysia Plan as a "project listing to curry favours" for government cronies.

NOW co-founder and executive director Rafizi Ramli opined that the 11th Malaysia Plan does not aim to drive the economy forward as claimed.

"Rather, it has become a series of listing designed to facilitate problematic project ventures, including 1MDB," Rafizi told a press conference at the NOW headquarters in Sungai Besi today.

The 11th Malaysia Plan was tabled in Parliament today by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

'Country now in a gloomier situation'

This is the second second five-year development plan presented by Najib, the first being in 2010.

However, unlike his first, the Tenth Malaysia Plan that was delivered shortly after Najib rose to become prime minister in 2009, the country is now facing a gloomier economic situation.

Aside from the weak ringgit and collapse in the global oil price, which have hurt the country's revenues, Najib is also under siege over the massive RM42 billion debt accumulated by 1MDB.

Rafizi ( photo ) said there were too many examples that the projects announced by Najib, is in the vicinity or constituency of those who are “close” to the prime minister.

“You see that hospitals, schools are being built in places of his friends and supporters,” he said.

Rafizi said the last Malaysia Plan that reached its target was the 6MP, before 1998 financial crisis, after which “all went downhill” for the country, which used to be the most rapidly-growing developing nation.

“Right now, we should look at our universities and schools to unlock the potential of our workforce.

“The main issues that need to be addressed by the government such as corruption are all still lip service. We need university (and education) reform plan. Not these projects,” he said.