Vision 2020? More like 2025 now, says Dr M

The prime minister says the policies which he put in place to help Malaysia to achieve the target were changed after he left office in 2003.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. (Benama pic)

BEIJING: Malaysia can still become a fully developed nation but it might take a little longer than the original target of year 2020, says Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Maybe we cannot achieve it by 2020, probably we can by 2025… but with your help, maybe we can achieve it earlier,” he said at a dinner with the Malaysian diaspora here last night.

Mahathir, who is on a five-day official visit to China, said the policies he had put in place for Malaysia to achieve the 2020 target were changed after he left office in 2003.

“We are now living in a country which has been destroyed by the previous government,” he said, adding that the new administration in Putrajaya was trying to put Malaysia back on track.

The new government would also do its best to fulfil its promises to the people, he added.

“If we don’t succeed today, we will strive until we fulfil all of our promises,” he said.

Also present were Mahathir’s wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah and Malaysian ambassador to China Zainuddin Yahya.

At the event, Mahathir also received donations from Malaysian companies for Tabung Harapan Malaysia. -FMT