Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has expressed concern that Malaysians’ attitudes may cause the National Transformation Plan 2050 (TN50) to fail.

He cited former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s speech at the Umno general assembly in 2002 where he expressed regret at having failed to change the mindset of the Malays.

This, Khairy said, applies to all Malaysians.

He also cited another former premier, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who said Malaysians have first world facilities but a third world mindset.

“The greatest fear I have is whether we can change our attitudes and behaviours.

“You can have the best laid out plans, you can have road map to become a top 20 nation, but without attitudinal, behavioural changes in Malaysia, then you’re not going to make it,” Khairy said.

He was speaking at the close of the National Aspiration Leadership Summit in Kuala Lumpur today.

In his speech, he explained how he envisioned that in 2050, Malaysians eating at fast food restaurants would clean up after themselves.

“That is going to be the most difficult thing in Malaysia.

“We can't even stand on one side of the escalator,” he said, referring to Malaysians’ habits of crowding both sides of the escalator.

Such civic-mindedness he said, was the marker of civilisation.

Khairy then challenged the crowd of 500 youths at the Putra World Trade Centre to come up with ideas for the TN50 initiative so as to improve the nation.

Najib had, while tabling Budget 2017 in October last year, unveiled TN50, stating that the time has come to “put the past aside”.

The prime minister had stressed how his vision was a bottom-up approach, insisting on receiving input from the people.

Khairy today also reiterated that TN50 is not meant to replace Mahathir’s Vision 2020, but is a roadmap for Malaysia beyond that vision.