Dr M blames previous govt for failing to achieve Vision 2020
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia failed to become a developed nation by 2020 due to the failures of previous administration, claimed Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“The ultimate objective of Vision 2020 was not achieved because for the last 15 years, wrong strategies and policies were put in place by the previous administration.
“They did not focus on the objective of turning Malaysia into a developed nation in our own definition by the year 2020,” he told reporters after launching the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 (WKB 2030) today.
Mahathir, who introduced Vision 2020 in 1999, said due to wrong policies, the current administration is not convinced that Malaysia can become a developed nation next year.
However, he reiterated that the present administration would put in place the right policies and strategies towards becoming a developed country, through the introduction of the WKB 2030 which would benefit all Malaysians.
“It will be better than Vision 2020 because everyone will enjoy prosperity,” he said.
On WKB 2030, Mahathir said the policy would focus on training rather than merely ‘giving’, especially to the poor.
“For this, we will select those who are keen and passionate enough to improve themselves…these people will be assisted.
“If they don’t have experience, knowledge and idea on how to do it, we will train them,” he said.
The prime minister said that it was found that the poor did not understand the importance of financial management and always think that money was merely a means to purchase, rather than as a business capital.
“We will also introduce small-scale businesses which they can manage and I am confident that this time around, they will get better results.
“Unlike previously when the government gave them an opportunity, the people just gave it away. The government gave them a contract, they sold the contract, the government gave them a licence, they sold the licence, the government gave them AP, they sold the AP.
“In the end, they remained poor,” he added.
Bernama
