Seeing dream receding, Dr M blames Putrajaya for losing focus on Vision 2020

(Malay Mail Online) – The architect of Vision 2020 Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today he is no longer confident Malaysia is capable of becoming a developed nation with less than five years to its target.

The former prime minister had helped the country transit from a farming nation to a manufacturing one and had mooted a map 24 years ago to help it make the final leap into the ranks of high-income nationhood, but claimed today that Putrajaya was no longer focused on this target.

“I wish to see on January 1, 2020, Malaysia is declared as a developed nation.

“But I am not confident, at this moment I am not confident, because our government now is not focused on the country’s development, but focused on keeping Datuk Seri Najib as prime minister,” the 90-year-old said in a public talk here titled “Malaysia Hari Ini: Ke Mana Kita?” (Malaysia Today: Where are we headed).

Dr Mahathir said he believed the country’s economic prospects will worsen if the federal government continues with its misplaced focus.

“I believe not only will our country not be a developed country, but the value of the ringgit will fall, our share prices will fall and the number of unemployed will rise,” he claimed.

The Malaysian economy has been slowing while the ringgit recently plunged to a 17-year low against the US dollar.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has also yet to dismantle pro-Bumiputera policies, a key measure that critics say is needed for Malaysia to join the ranks of developed nations.