BY MAYA GREEN
Dateline: 31 August 2025
Shah Alam, Selangor DE
On this special day, like what we tend to do on every iteration of our own birthdays, or when we celebrate our anniversaries, we tend to count our blessings and be thankful for it. We would also like to reflect upon both the past and the future. And sometimes, we use the occasion to make a wish for the future.
Malaysia has much to celebrate about and many blessings to count upon – things that every true Malaysian can easily enumerate, elaborate on, and expound upon, if needed. We are and should always be thankful for these blessings. We do not need to enumerate and repeat them here. Suffice to say, there are just too numerous, if only we’d care to pause awhile and reflect.
Conversely, if you were to ask a Malaysian what are the ills and regrets that have accumulated till now, these are also many and varied. Also, there is no point in dwelling on these obvious and often negative things. Why focus on the dark side? Not on this occasion of an anniversary celebration.
On this occasion, I’d rather we focus on the angle or stream of thought mentioned in the last sentence in the first paragraph above— on what should be our wishes and hopes for the future. This presumes that our wish is for that which is positive, and that which will bring more success for all. The common well-being, that is.
Everyone will have their own list, some of the ideas of which will likely overlap with someone else’s or even contradict the expectations of others. That’s fine, and we don’t need to waste our breathe and expend unnecessary energy arguing about whose list of ideas or wishes is better. Appreciate the fact that in making your wish, your motivation is the welfare of the nation and all of her people for the future. If that is not the motivation, please set it right to your True North.
As a nature lover, I tend to look to nature for insights and wisdom. Take the example of the trees. For trees to thrive, the conditions – fertile soil, water, light – must be right. Countries and economies, too, require a good environment to prosper. If all success factors achieve their full potential and the gears mesh just right, the engine hums and moves Malaysia forward – and all of us, the people, along with it, that is what we want. So what are these conditions?
Here’s my wish list:
1. Efficient Administration and Infrastructure
2. Leading Education and Research Capabilities
3. Free and Open Labor Markets
4. Free Enterprise
5. Secure, Competitive Energy Supply and Efficient Protection of the Environment
6. Open Access to World Markets
7. Competitive Finance and Tax Policy
8. Macro-Economic Stability
9. Functioning Market Economy
What has been put on my wish list are what is needed to make Malaysia thrive and succeed in the family of nations in the world. The list are the components of the right environment for success – the conditions needed for Malaysia to thrive. Without all these in place, we will be just a mediocre nation. Certainly, not in the top quartile.
We must, and do count our blessings and are thankful for it. But we also wish for a better and brighter future ahead. Make a good wish for Malaysia and may it come true.
Happy Anniversary Malaysia!
