ALL Malaysians must find out the reasons why Vision 2020 had been a total failure with Malaysia more corrupt, disunited and polarised along race and religious lines at the end when compared to the beginning of Vision 2020 in 1991.
At this rate and as a result of nation-building in the 30 years from 1991 to 2020, Malaysia is heading to become a failed, divided and kleptocratic state in another three decades.
If we do not want to see Malaysia end up as a failed, divided and kleptocratic state when we mark our first Centennial in 2057, the nation must perform a national introspection as to why Vision 2020 had failed so far.
As the Dewan Rakyat will end its 31-day meeting on April 4, I suggest that Parliament be extended by another two days to debate why Vision 2020 was a total failure with Malaysia more corrupt, disunited and polarised along race and religious lines at the end when compared to the beginning of Vision 2020 in 1991.
Likewise, there is a need to explore why all the nine strategic challenges to make a success of Vision 2020 were all abject failures.
The Dewan Rakyat should pass a resolution to endorse the nine strategic challenges as the basis of Malaysian nation-building for the next 10 years.
Something is very wrong if there are MPs who are opposed to the nine strategic challenges as the basis of nation-building for the next 10 years for these challenges are consistent with and fulfill the Malaysian Constitution as well as the five principles of nation-building as contained in the Rukun Negara (National Principles).
Vision 2020 committed Malaysia to the “pursuit of excellence, fully aware of all its potentials, psychologically subservient to none, and respected by the peoples of other nations” but we failed dismally.
The debate in Parliament as to why Vision 2020 and the nine strategic challenges were abject failure should be followed up with nationwide debate up and down the country.
Its success will determine whether Malaysia can be saved by a reset and return to the original nation-building principles agreed to by the nation’s founding fathers (which included the first four UMNO presidents) and fulfil the aspiration of Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, to be “a beacon of light in a difficult and distracted world”. – March 23, 2023
Veteran lawmaker and retired DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang is the incumbent MP for Iskandar Puteri.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
