Malaysia’s development has improved leaps and bounds in the last 55 years of independence. With our short history, we were given the privilege to be under the command of 5 previous Prime Ministers. Now sky scrapers proudly graze our skies, with our planes touching down at our own Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Malaysians are also gifted with an education system that has contributed a significant impact on our citizens. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad played an important role in improving Malaysia status and image to both the citizens and foreigners. He was an individual who had a visionary mind and was someone who was always trying to improve Malaysia for its citizen.
Tun Dr Mahathir was famous for his visionary mind that had no limit. One of the main reasons he was a good leader and adored by his people was his innovative ideas on improving the lives of the Malaysian people. He launched Vision 2020 in 1991 as a step to familiarize the citizens of Malaysia with the future he planned for the country. Vision 2020 was a thirty-year plan of the steps needed to be taken by Malaysians to ensure the rapid development of the country that was stemmed by none other than Tun Dr Mahathir himself. According to him, in order for Malaysians to proceed towards its goals, the citizens of Malaysia were to face nine challenges. Not only that, Vision 2020 was also used to establish a single, united Malaysian nation that would unite our multi-racial citizens. With Vision 2020, Tun Dr Mahathir also develop a plan to build a symbol for the nation by constructing the World’s tallest building. The creation of the Petronas Twin towers started on 1992 and was completed in 1997. The Petronas Twin Towers came to be the tallest from 1997 until 2003. With his ties with Petronas, Tun Dr Mahathir urged Petronas to reach out abroad to secure future petroleum supplies.
During his time, Tun Dr Mahathir also reached out to improve the development of the science and technology sector in Malaysia. He had previously said that he did not want Malaysia to be left behind in the new IT-based industries and business.(Tun Dr Mahathir, 2002) Thus, a Japanese business consultant, Kenichi Ohmae had helped him to understand the rapidly unfolding developments of the science and technology sector. As a result, Tun Dr Mahathir had decided to build Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) situated at Cyberjaya. According to Tun Dr Mahathir (2011), the range of industries using information and conducting research on information-based technology and its applications, together with various other businesses based on information technology and telecommunications, would be located. Moreover, science and technology has been emphasized in the Vision 2020. Malaysians have to start innovating and developing on our own, not just be passive recipients and consumers according to Tun Dr Mahathir, 2011. Additionally, we have to stand alongside other creative nations and be leaders in scientific discovery and technological innovation. (Mahathir, 2011, p.500)
Last but not least, Tun Dr Mahathir had also greatly contributed to the Malaysian education system. He had managed to introduce Science and Mathematics to be taught in English (PPSMI) for students from primary schools until secondary school. Even though this program did not pan out as planned, but it still had managed to leave a remarkable value on the importance of learning English to Malaysian citizens. It also had manage to open the eyes of teenagers of the important role of English has in the field of science and technology. According to Tun Dr Mahathir, science in particular changes and advances rapidly. That is why good command in English would assist greatly on Malaysians to keep up with the rapid development. Moreover, most area of modern life applies knowledge using the English language. In addition, Tun Dr Mahathir wants everyone to study in one type of school so he makes Government National Secondary School as well-equipped and attractive.
In a nutshell, Tun Dr Mahathir has proven himself as a worthy leader. With his visionary mind and brilliant ideas he played an important role in improving the science and technology sector in Malaysia. He was also responsible in improving our education system. Through the years, Tun Dr Mahathir is now remembered most for his achievement on making Malaysia better place through Vision 2020, which has become not only his dream but a dream for the whole nation.
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