COMMENT | Malaysia had a dream. About four decades ago, we aspired to be a developed nation by 2020. I was in Singapore, attending a conference when the news broke. In 1981, Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was US$5,596 (Malaysia: US$1,769) and in 2019, US$65,233 (Malaysia: US$11,415).

Singapore did not have that dream, but they achieved double-digit growth in GDP per capita and is now a developed country. They do not have natural resources and depended on us by exporting our produce. Even water is from us.

What did they do right?

We are blessed with so many natural resources...