Should a fairy godmother suddenly appear before me with a crystal ball, a
magic wand and a world atlas, and give me the liberty to select the country Id
like to live in 25 years from now, without a seconds hesitation, I would point to
that small nondescript, elongated peninsula straddling the equator called
Malaysia. The reason is very simple. I firmly feel that 25 years hence,
Malaysia would be one of the nicest – if not THE nicest – places to call
home.
Let us take a little journey down the corridors of time and cast a glance at the
destiny of some of the nations of the world over the past five decades. There is
war and famine in some, greed and suffering in others. Quite clearly,
Malaysia has reason to stand proud among the countries of the world. There
is plentiful sunshine and rainfall, while the soil is rich and the harvests
plentiful. Even Mother Nature has seen fit to bless Malaysia by exempting her
from its tantrums – there are no tsunamis and earthquakes, no floods and
droughts, no hurricanes and typhoons. Consequently, there is no need to live
in fear of natures sudden and unabated fury; no need to be constantly on the
lookout for unexpected destruction and devastation Freed from the
encumbrances of having to battle with the forces of nature, Malaysians are
empowered to pursue lifestyles of their own liking. The economy is booming,
jobs are for the taking… this is the senario today and there seems little reason
to expect this scenario to change adversely within the next 25 years. In fact,
with proper management and leadership, the outlook for Malaysia in the next
25 years may even improve.
Just for starters, imagine coming home after a day’s work to a spotlessly spick
and span house filled with the tantalising aroma of rich coffee and roast
chicken, all waiting to welcome one home… Which Malaysian
housewife-cum-career lady has not dreamed of this before? And yet, this
dream may well become a reality just 25 years from now – all because of the
winds of technological change, which are sweeping through the country right
now. Pping! Just press that little button on your wristwatch 30 minutes before
you head home and it’d activate the gamut of gadgets that will start the kettle
singing, the rice boiling, the washing machine churning and the vacuum
cleaner vrooming, and hey presto, all those tiresome household chores would
be done before you can say Abracadabra! Ridiculous, you say? Well, with
the setting up of the headquarters of computer giants in the Multimedia Super
Corridor and the pace of development of artificial intelligence being what it is
today, everything and anything is possible, and I, for one, am most definitely
looking forward to some exciting changes in our lifestyles within the next 25
years.
And as we get into our cars and head towards home, we can rest tranquil in
the knowledge that there will be no apoplexy-inducing traffic jams to brave
through just to get out of the city – thanks to the network of Light Rail Transit
criss-crossing the country and the emergence of monorail taxis which have
taken the pain out of public transportation. Going home after work in 25 years’
time would be a real pleasure as one breezes down three tiered super
highways, drinking in the kaleidescope of changing scenery leading out of the
Kuala Lumpur City Center and enjoying the sight of the interesting
architectural landmarks sprouting up all over the country. Twenty-five years
hence, the choice of homes would also be more varied. There would be
bigger, more spacious low-cost homes for the economically less able and
luxuriously furnished condominiums replete with swimming pool, gym, sauna
for those so inclined. And for those who favour the country way of life, think of
what a heady experience going home everyday will be – speeding along
jam-free highways to the sprawling country home nestled amidst green, rolling
plains.
Twenty-five years from now would also see a tremendous boost to the
standard of life in Malaysia. Naturally, all this would come with a price to pay –
there would be a commensurable increase in the cost of living too. However,
this would be cushioned by the increase in the earning power of Malaysians
brought about by the mushrooming of small and medium scale industries in
the country in the aftermath of the 1998 Commonwealth Games, as well as by
the further maturing of the secondary and tertiary sectors. The automobile
industry in Malaysia would probably be in its element in 25 years time, with a
whole series of cars, vans and trucks, launched both locally and abroad, to its
credit and plans afoot to move on to move on to even bigger projects.
Translated into practical terms, all these means greater revenue for the
country and its people.
There would also be great inroads in the education system in Malaysia. The
seeds for changes have already been sown. The introduction of flexi time
tables, revamping of school curricula to incorporate attempts to inculcate
creativity and thinking skills, the introduction of computer literacy in all schools
in the near future are all designed to breathe new life into schools. Most
definitely, the implementation of teleaudio and televideo conferencing would
mean that classsrooms become literally borderless. The sector, which
stands to gain most, is the rural sector, as rural schools will be brought into the
mainstream of educational development. Given the current impetus, it is
highly likely that Malaysia would be internationally recognized as a centre of
educational excellence by the 2020s, and would play a leading role in the
dissemination of training at least in the East Pacific rim. All this would unleash
a multitude of learning opportunities and avenues for both young and old as
well as result in the gathering of a group of highly intellectual academicians in
the country. Needless to say, this would make Malaysia a most attractive
place to be in.
But the crowning glory of it – the single most distinctive factor that will make
Malaysia the best place to live in 25 years from now – lies in the governments
genuine efforts to build a heart for the country. The umbrella blessings of
Mother Nature, the winds of technological change permeating all strata of
Malaysian life – all this would come to naught if a society has no heart. In this
sense, the governments attempts to develop a caring society are most
commendable. Twenty-five years hence, these efforts would have begun to
bear fruit. Palliative and geriatric care has already made itself felt while
halfway houses for abandoned babies and abused children are increasing by
the day. The groundwork for inculcating the caring attitude among
Malaysians has already been laid with the move towards developing caring
schools. Traditional values like thrift, hard work, respect for the aged and filial
piety are being upheld as exemplary values which can hold the fibre of
Malaysian society together. The voices of people like Marina Mahathir calling
for tolerance and understanding for those most in need of moral support are
like beacons in the dark, lighting the way towards the creation of the highest of
all societies – that with a conscience. Ultimately, the country, which would be
best to live in, would be that which enjoys technological growth from without
and strong moral and spiritual development from within. And it is exactly this
factor which makes me firmly believe that Malaysia will be the best place to
live in 25 years from now.
