‘Here’s why we’re optimistic about M’sia’

Come Thursday, we will be celebrating the country’s 66th National Day in a world that’s totally different from that of 1957. Humanity is facing its greatest challenges yet while striving to achieve its full potential. What remains timeless and priceless is the importance of unity, while embracing diversity.

This year’s Merdeka comes at a special time of both high hopes and deep uncertainties. As we recover from the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are still faced with multiple existential challenges, including the climate emergency, growing inequality, and the issues caused by health, economic and geopolitical crises.

While these interrelated challenges are making life more complex and unpredictable than ever, those of us with a positive outlook believe in working to shape and create an environment for everyone that is sustainable, equitable and enjoyable.Ahead of Aug 31, I asked the chief executive officers and leaders in my network for facts and figures to back up their collective feelings of optimism for the country’s future. Here are their Top 10:

> Growing nation

Our gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 5.618% this year as compared to 2022.

> More productive

Our GDP per capita is trending positively, reaching US$11,372 (RM52,914) in 2022, up from US$10,576 (RM49,210) in 2021.

> Foreign direct investments (FDIs) up

FDIs rose by RM14.1bil in the first quarter of 2023, reaching a record RM893.2bil.

> Job creation

Unemployment rates are trending down, 3.73% in 2022 down from 4.05% from the year before.

> Malaysians welcomed

The Malaysian passport is number nine in the passport power rank, allowing for visa-free travel to 169 countries.

> Attractive place to retire

Malaysia ranks first among the 10 safest places to retire in Asia for less than RM9,000 a month.

> Investing in youths

Education spending as a share of total government expenditure is 16.37% (2021) – higher than exemplary nations like Sweden (13.64%), Canada (12.65%), and Finland (10.23%).

> Post-18 education

Government expenditure on tertiary education as a share of the GDP (latest available data 2013) is 2.07%. This is one of the highest in the region and above countries like Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Singapore.

> Women can thrive

This year, the number of women on public company boards reached 30% for the first time, following a sustained campaign by the 30% Club.

> Influencing the world

In 2022, the United Nations employed 890 Malaysians, up 38% from 2018 when it employed 646.I wanted to write about optimistic data, so that was what I asked my informants for.

This doesn’t mean that we could not find less positive data if we looked for it, but I wanted to highlight the strong fundamentals of our country and how these would benefit us all, as we work together to create value that can be transformational to the people of Malaysia, the region and the world.

I am not surprised that two of the 10 sources of optimism cited by my respondents involved education. In fact, it forms the very foundation of the other eight sources of optimism.

Education – primary, secondary and tertiary – plays a key role in shaping our societal values and developing the talent necessary to secure the future of the nation.

At a time when technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, continue to disrupt the world, our focus on academic excellence, instilling strong values, and building purpose-driven citizens, must not waver.

Happy National Day to all those who call Malaysia home.

PROF MUSHTAK AL-ATABI

Provost and chief executive officer

Heriot-Watt University Malaysia;

Chairman

Vice Chancellors’ Council for Private Universities