Dr M: Vision 2020 unlikely to succeed due to crises

PUTRAJAYA: Vision 2020 is unlikely to be achieved following the global financial crisis and the current political uncertainty in the country, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

The former prime minister said when his brainchild was launched in 1991, he knew there were risks in a 30-year development plan.

"At that time, our GDP growth was at eight per cent every year. We thought it would last forever," he said at a question-and-answer session during a talk on "Global Financial Uncertainties and the Future of Malaysia".

"Of course, back then, we didn't expect the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the radical changes in the administration of the country and this current global economic meltdown."

However, he said the plan, which aims to take the country to developed-nation status by 2020, could go back on the right track if leaders addressed the "political instability".
"If it is not resolved, we cannot focus on the economy. Once that is done, only then can we get people to focus. If not, we cannot achieve it."

The talk was part of the "Bridges -- Dialogues Towards a Culture of Peace" programme organised by the Perdana Leadership Foundation in collaboration with Putrajaya Corporation.

NST