BANGSA Malaysia is not such a crazy ideal; neither was what Tunku Abdul Rahman negotiated, a multi-ethnic Malaysia, achieving Merdeka for the Federation of Malaya an idea that was wrong or simply fake.

For a fact, after Dr Mahathir Mohamad conducted business with my father’s pharmacy in Sungai Petani for 12 years, he started his own pharmacy in Alor Setar and called it MICO Pharmacy. When my late father asked Dr Mahathir what MICO stands for, or represents, he declared that it simply stood for “Malays, Indians, Chinese, and Others”, or MICO!

For another fact, in the foreword to our book to honour our father, Dr Mahathir wrote, “what John Kuruvilla said was true about what MICO stood for!”

My take on it is that MICO was the first multi-ethnic truth about what would become the idea of a Bangsa Malaysia.

Establishing a united Malaysian nation made up of one Bangsa Malaysia (“Malaysian Race”), the nation faces eight serious challenges we labelled as Vision 2020.

Challenge 1: To create a psychologically liberated, secure, and developed Malaysian society.

Challenge 2: To foster and develop a mature democratic society.

Challenge 3: To establish a fully moral and ethical society.

Challenge 4: To establish a mature, liberal, and tolerant society.

Challenge 5: To establish a scientific and progressive society.

Challenge 6: To establish a fully caring society.

Challenge 7: To ensure an economically just society, in which there is a fair and equitable distribution of the wealth of the nation.

Challenge 8: To establish a prosperous society with an economy that is fully competitive,dynamic, robust, and resilient.

Malaysia 2.0

What does Malaysia 2.0 need to look like? While Pakatan Harapan will and must focus on their Harapan Handbook of promises, the new Malaysia must also demonstrate the “Vision 2020” hopes and promises of the last 30 years.

My prayer is that by the time Dr Mahathir retires and hands over his place, we would have addressed the following of my personal concerns:

1. What will it take for every Malaysian to feel and walk tall as one united and psychologically liberated, but secure, community of peoples without fear of other ethnicities or “races”, or other nationalities?
2. What will it still take for us to migrate and become a fully democratic, ethical, and moral society which not only tolerates but celebrates differences?
3. What will it take for us to become a modern scientific and technologically advanced society?
4. What will it take to establish a fully caring and economically just society with almost zero poverty; regardless of ethnicity or background?
5. What new but different economic levers can ensure a dynamic, economic, and competitive community of entrepreneurs and businesses who are moral capitalists with no hints of greed or avarice? Some call it moral capitalism!

Maybe some older assumptions were not accurate, and maybe bribery and corruption with greed has caused much failure. Regardless, one thing is sure: Lord God Almighty has given Malaysia another chance to do it right. I pray we do it right this time, and repeat it every other time. – July 7, 2018.

* KJ John worked in public service for 32 years, retired, and started a civil society group for which he is chairman of the board. He writes to inform and educate, arguing for integration with integrity in Malaysia. He believes such a transformation has to start with the mind before it sinks into the heart!

* KJ John worked in public service for 32 years, retired, and started a civil group for which he is chairman of the board. He writes to inform and educate, arguing for integration with integrity in Malaysia. He believes such a transformation has to start with the mind before it sinks into the heart!

* 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.