Tan Sri Dr. Omar bin Abdul Rahman is one of the Founding Chairmen of Malaysian Industry- Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT). In 1984, Tan Sri Dr. Omar bin Abdul Rahman made history by becoming the first Malaysian to be appointed as a science advisor to the Prime Minister, showcasing his groundbreaking thinking in the field. Trained as a veterinarian, Tan Sri Dr. Omar stands out as a prominent figure in the realm of science, leveraging his strategic mindset to develop a portfolio of innovative concepts and attributes. During its initial sprint, MIGHT concentrated on enhancing innovation and technology exploration within Malaysia's high-tech sectors, aiming to address forthcoming opportunities effectively.
National Aspiration Through the Years
Our national aspirations have often been spearheaded by political slogans. From Wawasan 2020 and 1Malaysia, to Transformasi Nasional, Wawasan Kemakmuran Bersama and Keluarga Malaysia; and now we have Malaysia Madani. Inevitably, it has and will always be veritable changes for our socio-economy – which can cause disruptions and stunted growth if not seamlessly converted.
The Rukun Negara serves as Malaysia’s national blueprint for fostering unity, encompassing several core objectives. It aims to achieve greater unity of her people while maintaining a democratic way of life. Additionally, creating a just society with equitable sharing of prosperity. Embracing a liberal approach, it encourages harmony amidst the country’s diverse cultural traditions. Furthermore, it strives to build a progressive society by harnessing modern science and technology.
With a shared commitment to our nation’s aspirations, we, the people of Malaysia, unite our endeavours guided by the following foundational principles: belief in God, loyalty to the King and Country, respect for the supremacy of the Constitution, adherence to the rule of law, and the practice of courtesy and morality.
Harmonious, Prosperous, Progressive and Sustainable Malaysia (HPPS)
We can sum up the five objectives of Rukun Negara into just four words – Harmonious, Prosperous, Progressive and Sustainable Malaysia (HPPS).
Leveraging on the words alone, Wawasan 2020, Transformasi Nasional and Wawasan Kemakmuran Bersama (Shared Prosperity) appeared to embody HPPS as a whole. 1Malaysia and Keluarga Malaysia seemed to emphasise the ‘harmonious’ component. Malaysia Madani – the Malay acronym for SCRIPT, which stands for sustainability, care and compassion, respect, innovation, prosperity, and trust – is also an expression of HPPS, albeit a little heavy on the ‘care and compassion’, and ‘respect and trust’ sides. Again, the slogan too emphasises the ‘harmonious’ component.
What is missing from both the Rukun Negara and the national aspiration slogans that followed, is the ‘sustainable’ element.
Requirements for HPPS
The overarching goal of our national aspiration is an ‘HPPS Malaysia’. It is a consistent yet simplified paradigm, that is easier to monitor, evaluate and augment.
The first requirement for Harmony is satisfying our society’s basic needs such as food, water, shelter, basic education, primary health care and gainful employment. Parallel to that, is improving quality of life and achieving higher level of basic needs. The third requirement for harmony is the social, cultural and spiritual (SCS) component. This governs the way we behave, interact and engage with each other, which is particularly important to Malaysia’s multiracial, multireligious and multicultural society.
Requisites for Prosperity are gainful employment and equitable income distribution derived from a robust, high income, innovation-driven, public sector-led economy.
Being Progressive, on the other hand, calls for playing an active part of the present and an influential part on the global stage in the future. It also entails us to be future-aware and future-ready.
Finally, Sustainability requires awareness, comprehension and commitment, as well as takes appropriate, actionable and sustainable practices at all levels.
The overall requirement for HPPS is effective, efficient, and responsible governance. We need consistent policies, sustained commitments, persistent implementations, and the four critical enablers, which are political, economic, social, as well as scientific and technological in which must be optimal and competent.
Sustainability Component of HPPS Malaysia
Out of the four critical enablers mentioned above, the scientific and technological (plus innovation) (STI) enablers are expected to bring improvement and innovations towards achieving sustainability.
The STI enablers serve as the cornerstone, facilitating progress across various domains. Complementing these are four extended enablers: technologies for meeting basic needs, enhancing quality of life, fostering wealth creation and inclusive economic growth, and promoting good governance and responsible government practices.
STI play a vital role in enhancing current efficiencies, increasing business productivity and profitability, as well as refining governance practices – hence, ensuring the sustainability factor in HPPS Malaysia.
To foster robust national capacity, a comprehensive Total National Capacity creed must be upheld, aiming at cultivating the following elements: a government dedicated to establishing inclusive physical and soft science, technology, and innovation (STI) infrastructure; a scientifically adept and ethically sound community capable of both contributing to and leveraging the global reservoir of scientific knowledge and technological expertise; a vibrant private sector poised to generate prosperity by integrating technology and innovation across all sectors of the economy; a populace versed in science, steeped in a culture fostering creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and an effective governance framework facilitating informed policy formulation, meticulous planning, and efficient implementation, while also fostering public discourse and international partnerships, ensuring enduring commitment to STI advancement.
