Vision 2020: A reality in the making or just a fool's hope?

With the parliament dissolved and the nation gearing up for the 12th General Elections, lets take some time off the polls subject and talk about something else. Yeah, lets talk about a plan that was hatched when Tun Dr. Mahathir was in charge, his idea, pride and joy - Vision 2020. The main aim was for a self-sufficient industrial, Malay-centric developed nation, complete with an economy, in 2020 that will be eightfold stronger than the economy of the early 1990s. This was unveiled during the 6th Malaysian Plan tabling in 1991 and was targeted over 30 years (we're currently in the 18th year of implementation).

In order to achieve the plan, there were 9 challenges that needed to be overcome and the 9 are:

1. To form a nation that stands as one.
2. To produce a Malaysian community that has freedom, strength, and full of self confidence.
3. To develop a mature democratic community.
4. To form a community that has high morale, ethics and religious strength.
5. To cultivate a community that is matured and tolerant.
6. To form a progressive science community.
7. To cultivate a community rich in values and loving culture.
8. To ensure the formation of a community with a fair economy.
9. To cultivate a prosperous community.

The action steps sure are very forward thinking and if strictly adhered to, can make a world of difference and prove Vision 2020 to be a reality but let's take a look at the current scenario. The first action says forming a nation that stands as one, honestly are we standing as one? With the current regime's divide and rule system, unity is as brittle as the bones of an Osteoporosis sufferer. The nation has never seen resentment that has been evident in the last 2 - 3 years in the whole of 50 year history. Non-Muslims being discriminated by racist policies and a lack of understanding in the part of the minority's wants and needs have caused more cracks. Solutions have not been forthcoming, only lip service being given is not going to unite a nation. Actions speak louder than words, our so-called leaders need to understand.

Then the second action promotes for the community to have freedom, strength and full of confidence. Seriously where is the freedom? Do we have the freedom to speak?Freedom to assemble?Freedom to practice religion? With the main stream media being controlled, truth is often what you see or hear but more of what the ruling elite want you to see and hear. That is the reason why good people like Raja Petra Kamaruddin have their blogs as an alternative source to the REAL truth. How do you instill strength when all you try to do is divide people along racial and religious lines? United we stand, divided we fall, doesn't it ring a bell? The more you see it, the more it looks like we're staring at our own downfall due to manipulation of the unseen hands.

Thirdly it requires a mature democratic nation to be built. Yes Malaysia is a democracy but is it really 100% ? With the BERSIH rally calling for fair and just election process, it makes you wonder what type of democracy we practice? As far as I know, a democracy is "a government by the people, for the people and chosen by the people". The United States of America prides itself as a main proponent of democracy and to that extent they practice it. As you can watch now, in the run up to the presidential elections, there are debates by all contesting members. In these publicly held debates, each opponent will tell the nations their plans and goals in running the country if they are elected. In Malaysia, we have our politicians behaving like kids, in practicing name calling and finger pointing. Even the media coverage seems to be one sided with no highlight on the opposition front's campaign. Wouldn't it be nice if we can have the American style presidential debate here for our politicians? It'll be great to watch and the public can gauge for themselves the ability of our leaders.

The fourth and fifth actions can be highly debated. Yes the people today are highly motivated and also religious but how many can say that they are mature enough or highly tolerant for that matter? With leaders acting like a bunch of barbarians and proving without a shadow of doubt that they come from the stone ages in the manner of speaking and actions, maturity on their part remains a question mark. With insensitive comments on a woman's menstrual cycle to the behaviour of thugs, our leaders are really mature. How do you expect to instill maturity when the people who are supposed to lead behave immature? Tolerance? Now that is the mother of all issues, the heartless demolishing of temples, the waving of the keris and right up to the issue of body snatching of deceased family members, tolerance has long died with the good leaders who brought up this young nation.

If you fight for a fair economy, then why still use the NEP? Wouldn't it be better to allow a level playing field where you and I can achieve success based on merit and ability? When this truly happens it is then that you can see a progressive and prosperous community that is truly developed in mind and body. When we realise and look at each other as my fellow brothers and sisters of Malaysia, it is then only we can say that we're on the right path.

Well fret not, there is another 12 years to go for us to reach the promised land. If we're not going to change and be adamant in remaining as we're today, then Vision 2020 will just be a fool's hope and not a reality. So it is up to us to decide which do we want; realizing the dream or just letting it fade into oblivion.