PM launches Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, says will hit the ground running

KUALA LUMPUR: The government intends to hit the ground running with its Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 and will not hesitate to amputate the cancerous limbs of corruption and abuse of power which hindered past visions, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said corruption and abuse of powers were the main reasons past visions with good intentions did not lead to just and fair distribution of wealth.

"The main reasons stunting the development and distribution of the country's economy (pie) are corruption and abuse of power.

"This has become cancerous, and the only cure, as a doctor, as I see it, should be to amputate and eliminate it.

"Bumiputra strengthening agenda were impacted by this problem and the support which were supposed to have been given to the bumiputras were misused and leaked to the groups that should not have received it.

"As a result, the economy gap of the Bumiputra is still unsolved.

"The problem of corruption and abuse should be rid of, not the agenda," said Dr Mahathir.

He said this in his speech at the launch of the government's new vision SPV 2030, a blueprint for the direction of the country in the next decade, on Saturday (Oct 5) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

"SPV 2030 is a blueprint for the period of 2021 to 2030. We have filled the management and development of the country, along with the Budget 2020, with policies in line with the vision.

"By 2021, there need not be much aligning.

"In other words, in 2021 we will hit the ground running and pursue the Shared Prosperity Vision full steam," said Dr Mahathir.

He said SPV 2030 was a continuation of Vision 2020, taking into account the changes that wwould happen in the next decade.

SPV 2030 is a long term vision suggested and developed by Institut Masa Depan Malaysia (Masa) last year.

Dr Mahathir said the vision not only aimed to increase the incomes of all ethnic groups, but also to upskill Malaysians in various sectors.

The main aim, he said, was to provide a decent standard of living to all Malaysians and make Malaysia the new "Asian Tiger".

"SPV 2030 is an effort to make Malaysia a country which is developing sustainably with fair and distribution of economy with equitable growth at all levels of incomes, ethnics, regions and supply chains by 2030," said Dr Mahathir.

He added that SPV 2030 would begin together with Budget 2020 with the tagline "Shared Prosperity" to be presented on Oct 11.

"The Budget will be the starting point so that SPV 2030 will be able to be implemented fully in the 12th and 13 Malaysia Plans," said Dr Mahathir.

The main target groups in SPV 2030 are the B40 (lower income group), the hardcore poor, the economically poor, those in economic transition, Orang Asli, Sabah and Sarawak bumiputras, the disabled, youths, women, children and senior citizens.