Vision 2020 is known as Wawasan 2020. It is introduced by our former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr.

Mahathir bin Mohammad in 1991. It was announced to replace the New Economic Policy (NEP) which was coming to the end after twenty years. The vision statement set out a series of policy objectives for growth and social development to be realized through policy measures beginning under the Sixth Malaysia Plan (1991-1995), the New Development Policy (NDP) (1991) and the Second Outline Perspective Plan (OPP2) (1991-2000). In effect, OPP2, NDP and the Sixth Malaysia Plan form part of a complementary set of policy documents linked into Vision 2020. The main goal of Vision 2020 is to modernize and develop our country economically, politically, spiritually, psychologically and culturally. In achieving those goals, nine challenges are listed. Nine challenges of Vision 2020: I. The first challenge is establishing a united Malaysian nation with a sense of common and shared destiny. This must be a nation at peace with itself, territorially and ethnically integrated, living in harmony and full and fair partnership, made up of one 'Bangsa Malaysia' with political loyalty and dedication to the nation. The people must be united and not divided according to ancestry, skin colour or race. There are only Malaysians and not divisions of Malays, Chinese, Indians or other groups. II. The second would be creating a psychologically liberated, secure and developed Malaysian society with faith and confidence in itself, justifiably proud of what it is, of what has accomplished, and robust enough to face all manner of adversity. This Malaysian society must be distinguished by the pursuit of excellence, fully aware of all its potentials, psychologically subservient to none, and respected by the people of other nations. III. The third challenge that we always faced is that of fostering and developing a mature democratic society, practicing a form of mature consensual, communityoriented Malaysian democracy that can be a model for many developing countries. IV. The fourth would be establishing a fully moral and ethical society, whose citizens are strong in religious and spiritual values and imbued with the highest of ethical standards. In summary, citizens with good conduct and moral values.

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The fifth would be the challenge of establishing a mature, liberal and tolerant society in which Malaysians of all colours and creeds are free to practice and profess their customs, cultures and religious beliefs, and yet feel that they belong to one nation.

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The sixth would be establishing a scientific and progressive society, a society that is innovative and forward-looking, one that is not only a consumer of technology but also a contributor to the scientific and technological civilization of the future.

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The seventh would be nurturing a fully caring society and a caring culture, a social system in which society will come before self, in which the welfare of the people will revolve not around the state or the individual but around a strong and resilient family system.

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The eighth would be ensuring an economically just society. This is a society in which there is a fair and equitable distribution of the wealth of the nation, in which there is a full partnership in economic progress. Such a society cannot be in place so long as there is the identification of race with economic function, and the identification of economic backwardness with race.

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Last but not least the ninth challenge would be establishing a prosperous society, with an economy that is fully competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient.

These are nine challenges of Vision 2020 for Malaysia. The main emphasis of the Vision is economically related. To realize the Vision, an annual growth rate of 7% is required, which meant that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had to be doubled every 10 years. During the first six year after the announcement of the Vision, Malaysia indeed recorded an 8.5% growth rate annually before the Asian financial crisis. Eight years later, Mahathir commented that the Visions greatest success is not solely measured upon economic growth but also the fact that the nation were working together towards a common goal. The projection of Vision 2020 culminated in the popular phrase of Malaysia Boleh (Malaysia can) in relation to fostering a stronger sense of unity and common purpose among the people. Thus, it is evidence that Vision 2020 is not just a goal for economic development but also a level of maturity to be achieved by Malaysian society. Malaysia is on its way in becoming a developed nation on par with other countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and Europe.