Yes, we can!” So exclaimed a presidential hopeful in the run-up to the US presidential election. A majority of Americans believed him and made him their 44th president and the first with African blood.

In Malaysia our prime minister and his administration are aiming to similarly reshape our country. Can they make it happen? Well, they certainly are trying — from the New Economic Model and the Government and Economic Transformation Programmes to the 10th Malaysian Plan. Each one of these bold pronouncements build on the foundation of the other. The New Economic Model envisions a better Malaysia, one which is economically wealthier and socially inclusive. The Economic Transformation Programme sets out the details of how our key economic areas will thrive over the next 10 years. The Government Transformation Programme, already in progress and yielding results, is about delivering effective public and social services that our citizens want from their government. The 10th Malaysian Plan sets out, among other things, how all of these will be funded over the next five years.

The desire, from the very top, is real enough. But can we make it happen?
Let’s consider the first premise: our mindset. Malaysians lack confidence. We are often defeated before we play. We can only sit around our teh tarik and grumble about the state of the nation.

But wait, let’s drill deeper. We lament our education system, but forget that we are still miles ahead of Thailand where, in a recent study, they found that an average 80% of Thai teachers would fail tests they set their students. We complain about our healthcare system but forget that our hospitals are good enough to attract and serve Indonesians. So these protestations are actually good news. Because it shows we care, and more, that we can see what is beginning to go into decline and are wanting to do something about it before it becomes too late.

So, our “pessimistic” mindset will keep pushing us to look for ways to improve: good. So, we’re ready!

Let’s move to the second premise: our ability. You have all heard that we produce graduates who are unemployable. One wise old university professor quipped, “I used to teach engineers, now I teach technicians who pretend to have engineering qualifications.” Even more basic, you’ve heard how our secondary school leavers go to vocational institutes to obtain Sijil Kemahiran, and no matter what grades of these certificates they attain, their salaries don’t increase — again a vindication of the ability, for the market is a blind and fair judge when it decides on who deserves high wages. But then we have real talents, world-class talents in all fields, many of whom I have mentioned in this column before who run regional, even global, business empires from Kuala Lumpur. And in their empires, thousands of smart Malaysians make decisions, big and small, that enable their growth and create more value.

So, we’re not fully able, but I’d argue that there remains just about enough pockets of excellence.

And now for the third and final premise: willingness. Since his inauguration, President Barack Obama has had his critics. He took on too much, most say. He shouldn’t have taken on healthcare reform, some say. He should have focused solely on job creation, others add. Fair enough, I’d say. Nonetheless, there is one constant. He did not shy away from tackling the things he said he would tackle. He had the courage to take on even the most entrenched interest groups. He was willing, and he pulled his party along.

We’ve now come so far. This present government is a little over a year old. It has painted a new way forward. I say, yes, we can make it happen if all three ingredients are present: readiness, ability and willingness.

I believe we Malaysians are ready. We are nearly able and will pull through. What remains is the lynchpin: are our leaders willing?

Allow me to conclude with a reminder to all Malaysians of a vision of what we could be. A vision that was unfolded nearly 20 years ago, at the tabling of the 6th Malaysian Plan.  A vision that is supposed to be a reality in less than 10 years’ time: “By the year 2020, Malaysia can be a united nation, with a confident Malaysian society, infused by strong moral and ethical values, living in a society that is democratic, liberal and tolerant, caring, economically just and equitable, progressive and prosperous, and in full possession of an economy that is competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient.”

The leadership at that time already grounded the vision in reality and recognised that “there can be no fully developed Malaysia until we have finally overcome the nine central strategic challenges that have confronted us from the moment of our birth as an independent nation”.

This journey started 20 years ago. We have merely 10 more years. As many of you World Cup fans know, many games are won in the final 30 minutes of the match, some even in the final three minutes.

The key is to never give up. This Wawasan 2020 country is a wonderful place, now made even better as 1Malaysia. Let not this opportunity pass. We must all have the courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong.

With this, Vincent Chin will conclude his 42 column. He will return occasionally next year to comment on the latest developments in management and leadership.His previous columns in Management@Work can be found under the Management section at www.theedgemalaysia.com

This article appeared in Management@work, the monthly management pullout of The Edge Malaysia, Issue 813, Jul 5-11, 2010.