KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was overwhelmed by emotions when he opened the Wawasan 2020 time capsule, kept for over 28 years, during a special ceremony at Menara Kuala Lumpur on Sunday (April 13).
The capsule contains various symbolic items reflecting Malaysia's aspirations and hopes to achieve developed nation status as outlined in the Vision 2020 initiative, introduced by Dr Mahathir.
"I didn't expect to still see these items. I thought by that time I wouldn't be around. But, thank God, I was still given the chance to open, read, and see the contents of this capsule myself. This is something I am very grateful for," he said at a press conference today.
Dr Mahathir said when the capsule was first planted on Oct 1, 1996, he didn't anticipate living long enough to witness this historic moment, reported Sinar Harian.
"When I planted this capsule, I didn't expect to open it. By 2020, I would be quite old. I thought I wouldn't get to see it. But now, even though it was opened late, I was still given the opportunity," he said.
Contents of the capsule included various memorabilia such as identity cards, photographs, a phone, RM2 banknotes, media statements, and a poem written by Dr Mahathir himself.
The ceremony was held in conjunction with the “Celebrate Raya with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad” programme, organised by Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd (MKLSB).
He also praised the management of Menara Kuala Lumpur and hopes the tower will continue to be a symbol of the nation's achievements since its construction.
"I hope this tower continues to be a symbol of the nation's level of progress. When this tower was built, there were no skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur. But now, Kuala Lumpur is like New York, full of tall buildings.
"I hope Kuala Lumpur continues to grow as a metropolitan hub and become a focal point for economic, political, and social activities, contributing to the world," he said.
