KUALA LUMPUR: In order for Malaysia to achieve its target of becoming a top 20 nation by 2050, as envisioned under the 2050 Transformation Plan (TN50), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today urged Malaysians to become true believers of their respective faiths.
This, he said, is because the answer to becoming a great nation lies in the teachings of every religion which promotes harmony and peace.
"To become a top 20 nation by 2050, we need social harmony and one of the ways to achieve it is through faith. Go back to your own faith and the answers are all there.
"You must be a true believer no matter what your religion is, whether you're a Christian, a Muslim or a Buddhist.
"Be a true believer of your faith and Malaysia will be a truly great nation," he said in his speech during the National Peace and Harmony banquet held at the Majestic Hotel here today.
Also present were Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup and Datuk Paul Low.
To promote peace and harmony, the prime minister called on the public to start understanding one another and to adopt the trait of humility.
Citing a Malay proverb "Tak kenal maka tak cinta", Najib said it shows that there is a need for the people to understand one other in order for them to appreciate and love.
"I would also like to emphasise on humilty, or the importance of being humble. It means we must admit and accept our differences.
"We need to build a society that is gentle and with a sense of empathy; think about other people's suffering; don't treat people the way you don't want to be treated.
"Imagine every day when we drive around Kuala Lumpur, we can see all different races.
Isn't it true we share the same city and breathe the same air and bear the same identity as proud Malaysians?"
TN50, envisioned by Najib, is the country’s roadmap for 30 years, post Vision 2020.
Najib first announced the TN50 initiative during the tabling of the 2017 Budget on October 21, 2016, describing the plan as “our lucky charm”.
TN50 aims to set a new ‘vision’ for the nation as well as transform Malaysia into a nation of calibre, with a new mindset.