THE world is one day from 2024, with two bloody conflicts and a pandemic resurging across the globe.

Malaysia is a lot more peaceful but concerned about rising Covid-19 cases, as well as the economy and national unity.

All this is nothing new to Malaysians, really. Year in, year out, our concerns have been the same – the economy and national unity – as simple as that, for a country that had so much optimism when Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore combined to become Malaysia.

Of course, there have been good times, more so when Malaysia wins a sporting event, but we can’t look back. No one can.

The future is ours and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said it well when he told a media dialogue last week that the focus was: “Economy! Economy! Economy!”

That is it is no longer news for any of us.

But it means it has to be done, whether via targeted subsidies, more investments, more incentives or more permanent employment, beyond the gig economy and short-term projects.

Malaysians need better and high-paying jobs to counter inflation and the declining ringgit.

All that means a government that is focused on the economy and provides the confidence for investments – be it domestic, foreign or diaspora.

That has not been happening as quick and great for the Anwar government since he got the top post in November 2022.

Maybe the cabinet tweak will help. Maybe, also, as Anwar admitted to journalists, there will be better communication on policies and issues.

That all just comes down to working on policies and plans, not the next Tiktok or Instagram or YouTube post or slogan, logo and song.

Policies and plans are the best communication possible for any government, more so when plans are implemented well and for the benefit of the people.

Maybe there should be less of talking up hurts and quarrels of the past and more focus on weeding out “religious fanatics and bigots”, as Anwar said.

These fanatics and bigots are fraying the fabric of society, exacerbating ignorance and understanding between all communities not just in the peninsula, but also in Sabah and Sarawak.

We need a newer, better Malaysia. It is a project that began in 1963 and has not been done well over the time of 10 prime ministers, which is a pity for a country that has the biggest educated and well-travelled cohort ever in its short history.

One would think all of us would have made that better Malaysia by now.

It didn’t happen in 2023. Let’s hope we get nearer in 2024. – December 31, 2023.