Challenge 1: Defining the role of ethnicity and religion in society

This is an issue that permeates through almost all other challenges and it is holding us back in a big way because every time a reform is proposed, it gets stifled by ethnic and religious politicisation of the issue. We need to identify the proper position of ethnicity and religion in society and start nudging the nation towards that direction. We need to reach a stage where race and religion is put into its proper place so that these issues will not be raised at the wrong time.

Challenge 2: Creating political competition

We claim to be a democracy but our political "market" is monopolised by one big cartel to the extent that there is no effective competition. We have become so used to the existence of this cartel to the extent that we are obsessed with demanding another cartel is created to compete, instead of breaking up the existing monopoly. I don't think this is healthy. I would rather see proper competition where many competitors can enter the political market and partnerships are formed after elections rather than before. I think that is the only way to create a healthy political competition so that even smaller parties have a chance.

Challenge 3: Restoring trust in institutions

So much work needs to be done because over the last few decades, many of our institutions have been pillaged by successive administrations. As a result, the level of public trust in the institutions have been eroded even more. Among others, we need to enhance the effectiveness of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, separate the role of attorney general from that of public prosecutor, separate the prime minister from the post of finance minister, devolve the powers of the inspector-general of police (IGP), improve transparency in political financing and make government procurement (including public private partnerships) more rules-based, competitive and transparent.

Challenge 4: Restoring citizens' faith in their own ability

Our government has been increasing in size every day and they have taken over responsibilities that are supposed to belong to individuals. But our citizens today don't realise this because they have lived only in the era of big government. As a direct result of that environment, many of us feel that the government must do everything, forgetting even to ask what is the proper role of government. After decades of living like that, they feel if the government doesn't do something, they cannot do anything. They have lost confidence in their individual abilities. We need to restore the belief in the potential of individuals so that there will come a time when individuals will tell the government to stay away because certain tasks are not the job of the government and should remain in the realm of individual responsibility. The problem is particularly pervasive among the underprivileged and their dependency on government is bad for the nation.

Challenge 5: Make the middle class and the elites join the ranks of the common people

I have heard so many of our elites comment in private about the problems besetting the country. But the comments remain as gossip in the lobby of 5-star hotels and fine dining restaurants. Nothing is done after that and the elites continue to live their lives as normal, including by "beautifying" the very problems they claim to be unhappy about. I don't know how to change this, but I do hope to see at least a few of the elites take some risk and walk the talk, or at least, finance the walk. Money needs to be put where the mouth is, not just to pay for the mochachinos.

Wan Saiful Wan Jan is CEO of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs

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