Malaysia must double our talent pool of professionals that will help grow knowledge-based industries which are creative, innovative and globally competitive to successfully transform into a high-income economy. The only economic model that works is people-centric and human resources-based. Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore are sterling examples of natural resource scarce countries who have succeeded in transforming themselves into developed nations merely by unleashing the potential of their people.
There is no reason why Malaysia can not succeed when we have both natural and human resources that is superior to either Singapore, Korea or Hong Kong. If Malaysia is to double the per capita income of the people over the next 10 years to USD 15,000 by 2020 and join the ranks of high-income economy, there must be a new economic model that boldly promotes merit, performance, integrity and human dignity.