WHEN Wawasan 2020 was envisioned in 1991, many in the workforce today were in school.

The year 2020 had seemed so far away, and with the strong economy then and a clear vision of what Malaysia wanted to be, it was exciting to visualise what we would be like 30 years later. Strong, united, harmonious, successful, proud and rightfully on a par with the best of the world.

Maybe it was over-optimism, poor execution, a revised direction, socio-economic changes or a weak leadership, or the somewhat tragic combination of all of the above. Nevertheless, 2020 is here, and we are in many ways unhappier and more vulnerable than we were three decades ago.

And ironically, with a different government but the same leader who conceived Wawasan 2020.

The best plans are those that evolve with time.

Perhaps, the two leaders who came after Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s first stint in office were more keen to build their own legacies.

Many things have changed since. Among them are the country’s political power equation, voting patterns, dominant ideologies in the region and conservative-liberal divide.

Others, though, have stayed the same. Race and religion are still hot-button issues. Vernacular schools remain a subject of debate. We have the same political boogeymen: Jews, communists, Chinese, sodomy, and perhaps, the addition of Christians and DAP.

But the decorum and restraint of such propaganda seem to have faded, with fresh allegations of disloyalty to the nation, subversion and so on.

To return to the “good old days”, the high political temperature needs to be dialled down. Instead of trading barbs openly via the media, the organisations and individuals involved in disputes should hold meetings instead, and reach a compromise or mutual understanding.

Efforts like the dialogues organised by Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia and Dong Jiao Zong should continue, and with minimal political involvement. The aim should be to find common ground, not merely understand each other’s position. The focus should be on dialogue as much as debate.

Ministries and civil society come with responsibilities not only to their charges, but also to preserve national harmony. These positions should not be treated as platforms to satisfy egos and expand one’s brand personality. Post-holders must remember that in the long run, their contributions are what’s remembered, and in some cases, rewarded, while hollow bravado and personal agendas pushed at the cost of others are eventually exposed and discredited.

Putrajaya should take the lead, providing a clear vision and easily understandable direction for government-linked companies, civil servants, private corporations and the people to rally behind.

What the “good old days” did better was appearing to have a strong, cohesive and consistent government that spoke in one voice. Ministers should be re-educated on the meaning of collective ministerial responsibility. After two years of Pakatan Harapan rule, the cabinet can no longer use the “greenhorn” excuse.

“Malaysia Boleh” was a rallying cry, and it applied to everything.

Piecemeal communication and sporadic information are of no help, either. If this means taking a political risk or disagreeing with other parties, do so with conviction, and without the need to drag the nation into your internal bickering.

We may not have overcome the nine challenges outlined in Wawasan 2020, but the vision is worth reviving. It was a bold step in the right direction, and now, it is perhaps even bolder and far more challenging to implement, given the muddled political ground.

And, it has never been more necessary.

We need a new vision for Malaysia to move forward. This could start by taking a look back to see what we have missed.

Happy New Year, Malaysia, and wishing us all a great decade ahead. – January 2, 2020.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.