YOUTH participating in a 2050 National Transformation (TN50) programme defended the initiative against critics who say it is far-fetched, but want the government to deal with present-day problems.

Those present at a TN50 session in Tanjung Malim, Perak, yesterday said the programme is relevant despite it being a plan for the next 30 years.

They also felt that it complemented the Vision 2020 (V2020) initiative instead of being its replacement, as claimed by TN50’s critics.

“It is a good platform for youth to voice their aspirations and desires for what they want to see in the country,” said Tanjung Malim resident Azahari Abdullah Sani, who was part of the 200-strong audience in the townhall forum.

“But there should also be an emphasis on solving present-day issues, such as housing, the high cost of living and low wages,” said the 30-year-old educator.

For instance, the cheapest houses in Tanjung Malim, which is about 50km from Kuala Lumpur, cost RM200,000 but the average pay of a job for a local graduate was RM1,500 per month.

“So how are we going to reach our goals in TN50 if we don’t settle present-day problems?”

TN50 is the brainchild of Prime Minister Najib Razak and as is being touted as a ground-up approach to laying down policies that will be pursued until 2050.

Najib and other senior ministers from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition have been taking part in dialogues and townhall sessions with focus groups, such as youth, women, the business community and artistes all over Malaysia.

The Tanjung Malim session featured a panel comprising of Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) vice-chancellor Dr Mohamad Shatar Sabran, national astronaut programme finalist Dr Nawar Ariffin and Young Workers’ Association president Dazma Shah Daud.

However, critics have called the whole idea a publicity stunt to cover up the fact that the government is nowhere near achieving Vision 2020’s goals.

Detractors also claimed that Najib was abandoning V2020 as it was started by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is now an opposition leader seeking to take down BN.

Dr Mahathir said TN50 was pointless as it was too far in the future and that the present generation of youth won’t be around to see its results.

University student Razzi Basrah disagreed with the idea that TN50 is meant to replace V2020, saying that the plans are concurrent.

“We are getting to the end of Vision 2020 in three years, so TN50 is for the next 30 years,” said the UPSI student.

“We must remember that Vision 2020 was also being rolled out while the NEP (New Economic Policy) was still being implemented in the late 1980s.”

Lawyer Jani Izwandy Che Jan did not feel that TN50’s timeline was out of reach.

“It does not mean that we will necessarily take until 2050 to reach these goals. The planning process starts now and the government can take our feedback to blend into real policies,” Jani Izwandy said.

Mohamad Amin Osman bristled when asked what he thought of criticism of TN50.

“People say it’s nonsense but I think it’s relevant. I agree that policies should be bottom up and get people’s views.”

The 39-year-old self-employed Tanjung Malim resident also disliked the fact that some participants used the dialogue session to highlight present-day problems.

“This is not the platform for that. In fact, whenever I hear complaints about cost of living I become upset. Let me ask you, when in our history have things been cheap?

“I have never heard my father returning home and saying to my wife, ‘things are cheap today’.”

Amin said he was eagerly waiting for the TN50 road map, which is supposed be the compilation of ideas from the public and a strategy on how to achieve them.

“No one could have predicted 20 years ago how things will look like in the present. And we cannot predict how things will look like in the future. So that’s why we need TN50.” – September 28, 2017.