KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- Hopes, expectations and aspirations are at an all-time high as Malaysians step into a fresh era from a golden age of peace, progress and prosperity.
With their nation almost at the doorstep of developed nation status after 50 years of growth that other emerging states have found hard-pressed to match, the golden anniversary celebrations that kick off Thursday night abound with optimism.
The reason is obvious -- the labour of love that Malaysians exerted over the last five decades despite a number of major difficulties and hurdles is ample demonstration that working together to advance together comes naturally to them.
And these 50 years have seen achievements galore. Its best success is in empowering its rural people. Fifty years ago, half the population lived below the poverty line. Now it is just down to five per cent of a population that is almost four times larger. And it is set to be zero in three years.
An equally towering achievement is becoming, despite its relatively small geographical size, one of the top 20 trading nations in the world, with external trade having grown to RM1 trillion last year, and being one of the major manufacturing powerhouses in the Asia-Pacific region.
Malaysia's per capita income is estimated at more than RM21,000, with an enviable inflation rate of under four per cent and unemployment at a mere 3.5 per cent.
In education, Malaysia's achievements have been lauded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) as a great example for other countries.
Malaysia has also scored big in foreign relations despite being the target of a violent attempt by the communist world to take over the fledgling nation and of an aggressive "confrontation" by Indonesia which, sometimes using its armed forces, tried to derail the formation of Malaysia.
Malaysia turned the tables on the communist insurgency by establishing diplomatic relations with China and the then Soviet Union, declaring a neutral, "friends with all" foreign policy and working with Indonesia to create a regional association of Southeast Asian nations (Asean) that has since become one of the most successful political and economic regional blocs in the world.
It is no wonder that, at one time, it held the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and currently heads the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
In socio-economic development, one of its cornerstones is the New Economic Policy (NEP), aimed at eradicating poverty and giving economic power to all races.
Malaysia has also made significant success in fostering the development of its communications and multimedia industry, with the crowning glory being the creation of the Multimedia Super Corridor that has enabled the nation to ride the crest of the global ICT wave.
It is also a significant regional player in satellite technology, with two satellites for communications and entertainment direct-to-user channels that cover a large part of the Asia Pacific, as well as smaller satellites to detect weather conditions and for ground surveys.
Then, of course, Malaysia developed its first national car, Proton, which has become a major corporate and industrial player. Then a second national car company was formed, and now the automotive sector has gained a reputation not only for its home-grown vehicles but also its technological and engineering capabilities as well as its exports of parts and components.
Malaysia has become a model for the successful development of an Islamic financial system alongside the well-established conventional banking system. It has gained such prominence that it has innovated new Islamic finance products for the global market, and has set global standards, rules and training formats.
The Petronas Twin Towers, at one time the world's tallest building, are more than just the most prominent landmark in the country. The building showcases the capabilities and prowess of Malaysia's construction and engineering sector.
This has led to Malaysian contractors landing large jobs overseas, especially in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
The nationwide network of excellent highways and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, have in no small way added lustre to Malaysia's capabilities and achievements.
A world first is the recently completed 9.7-km tunnel which incorporates a storm water channel and a motorway in a single infrastructure.
Malaysians as individuals have over the decades also carved their names throughout the globe, be they scientists, fashion designers, seafarers, academicians or politicians.
One is Datuk Jimmy Choo, the London-based designer of exquisite hand-made shoes. His regular patrons included Princess Diana.
Malaysia also has Zhang Toi, a New York-based fashion designer and Datuk Michelle Yeoh, a Hollywood actress who is also known for being one of the "Bond" girls after starring in a James Bond movie.
Malaysia also has its own legendary mariner, Datuk Azhar Mansor, who carved a name for himself in the annals of Malaysian history as he became the first Malaysian to circumnavigate the globe solo on a new east-west-east route covering more than 25,000 nautical miles, a feat never achieved by seafarers, not even in the days of Spain's Ferdinand Magellan and Britain's Sir Francis Drake.
Azhar's 190-day feat motivated other Malaysians to notch several world achievements, be it in scaling Mount Everest, crossing both the North and South Poles and cycling around the world.
Malaysia's next Golden Age is already set for one early achievement that is out this world -- a Malaysian in space.
The first Malaysian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) will be blasted off aboard a Russian spacecraft on Oct 10.
At the moment it is a toss-up between Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and Capt Dr Faiz Khaleed on who will be the first to see his Malaysia from space.
The Malaysian astronaut will also conduct five space medicine research projects which will give new insights and possible opportunities for local scientists to better understand human diseases and conditions.
There is no question, therefore, that Malaysians have reason to celebrate a golden age and to look forward to another.
photo courtesy of : http://minaq-jinggo.fotopages.com
tunku : thanks to all malaysian who have made MALAYSIA stands tall especially to our previous leaders which had lead us to achieve what we have achieved today.hope that the present leaders sincerely and with loyalty to this nation put us in greater success.Thanks to our former prime ministers who dedicatedly brings peace and progress to this nation.
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