WHILE Dr Mahathir Mohamad has so far exhibited great credibility and perception on the most core issues facing the nation, I believe Dr Mahathir must now focus on his “little kronos-time left!” Can I propose three priorities:

A shared vision

Dr Mahathir’s first priority must be to set the country into the right direction, in terms of his original Vision 2020 and our common desire for Bangsa Malaysia as a lived reality. That goal has but a simple agenda: to become a developed nation by 2020, specifically, a developed nation in our own mould.

Actually, being a Dr Mahathir fan, I have written and reflected much about Vision 2020. To me the greatest stumbling block are two related items. I call it traditional Malay insecurity based on lack of a clear sense of personal identity, and transitioning such Malay-ness to become a Malaysian Race.

This may have been what Dr Mahathir called his “perjuangan yang belum selesai” which was focused on changing the mindset of the Malays. He should now clearly articulate what he has not yet done vide the 7 challenges of Vision 2020 and tell us how they need to be finished or achieved.

Hitting corruption

Secondly, the new attempts to get rid of corruption and abuse of power must become more real and seriously addressed. To date, obviously, the corruption culture was developed within Umno itself and with their political allies of MCA and MIC. The fight against corruption cannot be driven by anyone formerly from Umno.

The real and serious corruption war must be first and foremost to get rid of the “close one eye” culture which is endemic even within the public services. As Dr Mahathir repeated, it has destroyed the public services; whether civilian, military, or the police.

Even professional services of lawyers, accountants, and medical people plus chartered surveyors are all engulfed by this mainstream corruption culture.

Correcting falsehood

Our federal civil law system has been abused by a false equivocation by the AGC offices in assuming that we are 13 states of the federation, and even our flag reflects that fake assumption.

We need to start on the premise that we are three states of the Federation of Malaysia, namely peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak.

Once we start there, everything else about our starting assumptions may have to also change beyond 2020. For one obvious example: Is not the RUU355 which argued for two Malay states of the Persekutuan Tanah Melayu (i.e. Kelantan and Terengganu) by default could possibly be extended to all fourteen (inclusive of KL or Wilayah Persekutuan)?

Dr Mahathir must focus his priority on putting in place the original spirit and motivations of our federal constitution so that all three states treat one another with dignity and integrity. I think only Dr Mahathir has the moral authority to do this; and Anwar Ibrahim, too, is arguing for the same vide his media roles.

This specific initiative will be supported by our Merdeka generation of Malaysians who can still remember the specifics of the original social contract made within the Malay states and also with the East Malaysian States of Sabah and Sarawak by 1963. – August 18, 2018.

* 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.