The year end is time for reflection: Hopes for the new year

As the year comes to a close, let us reflect on how we have progressed as a nation in the past year. It’s time to take stock of our achievements and successes, weaknesses and shortcomings.

2019 can be as Charles Dickens wrote in his book, A Tale of Two Cities, “that this is the best of times and worst of times”.

The government has succeeded in enhancing governance and reducing corruption and has unveiled a new shared prosperity vision. Nevertheless, the nation still remained divided, with the state of race relations somewhat fragile and fraying.

Economically, while Malaysia has improved its international image and reputation and has attracted new foreign investments, there are still concerns over the economy, particularly over the cost of living and investor confidence.

I hope 2020 will be a better year for all Malaysians, a year of hope and reconciliation so necessary for us to be more united and harmonious.

I would like to propose that for the new year, we look at the 4Cs:

Cultural divide: let us close this divide to enhance our unity and social harmony by celebrating our cultural diversity, instead of deliberating on what divides us;

Corruption: we need to instil a culture of ethics and integrity to enable us to fight corruption both in the public and private sectors. Corporate liability for corruption offences, which was included into the MACC Act, comes into force in June 2020 and can be a game-changer to eradicate corruption. We must wipe out this scourge of corruption;

Class competition: the growing inequalities and the growing divide between the rich and poor is unsustainable. More must be done to improve the earnings of the lower middle class so that they can improve their livelihood. At the same time, more must be done for the Bottom 20 or B20. We have talked a lot about the B40, but the B20 needs a lot more attention; and

Common values and common purpose: We need to promote and enhance common values, such as like tolerance, harmony, trust and mutual understanding, so that all Malaysians can uphold and celebrate. We must also have a common purpose as a nation that transcends our political divide and brings us together as a nation.

The 4As of Unity

I would also like to urge the 4As of Unity - acceptance, awareness, accommodation and acknowledgement. We need to maintain an equilibrium of the legitimate interests of the various communities.

Finally, I hope all Malaysians will come together to focus on the 3Es, which must also be prioritised by the government:

Economic growth: to ensure we continue to enjoy sustainable economic growth of four to five percent;

Employment: to enjoy that we have enough jobs for our younger generation and to create the jobs of the future; and

Environmental sustainability: we need a joint coordinated effort among the government, business and civil society organisations to promote and achieve environmental sustainability that is so essential for future generations.

These are our common challenges going into 2020. Let us strengthen collaboration to move forward so that we can, together, work towards upholding the 4Ps - people, planet, peace, prosperity and partnerships - for a better nation and a better world.

May 2020 be a better and happier year for all of us.

May 2020 be a year of the new 3Rs for us- reconciliation, renewal and racial harmony.

In 2020, we need to also to keep focusing on the 3Ds - democracy, divide and digitalisation. The need to continue to strengthen democratic reforms, closing our racial and religious divides and accelerating digitalisation should move the nation forward.

Let 2020 also be the year we accelerate efforts to rid of the 4Is - inequalities, injustices, indifference and impunity.

Let us begin a new year with new hopes.

Happy New Year to all Malaysians.

Together let us unite and move forward to make 2020 the best year ever for Malaysia and Malaysians.

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MICHAEL YEOH is president of Kingsley Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific and a patron of YMCA Kuala Lumpur. - Mkini