Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is a bold man who speaks his mind and acts out his convictions.

The past 20 plus years have seen him lead the country to unparalleled economic growth that is transforming Malaysia from a developing nation towards a developed one.

The many completed projects such as the Petronas Twin Towers, North South Highway, KLIA, Putrajaya, to name but a few, stand as testimony to the fact that we have come a long way.

If the current rate of progress continues and barring any unforeseen circumstances, the prime minister's 2020 vision will be realised in due time. To the rest of the country and in the eyes of the world, he has achieved great success.

However, by his own admission, he has failed in his main objective — to change the mentality and attitude of the Malay community. His own sense of dejection was evident from the tears he shed at the recent Umno general assembly and the lashing out at those who took the government's help as their birthright.

What is worse is that many of the very people, whom he has been trying to change and whose approval he sought, are now turning against him. It is ironical that he has to rely on the support of the other communities to stay in power and lead his own.

In my opinion, the good doctor had carried out an accurate diagnosis but provided the wrong prescription. The medication in the form of excessive handouts, which in some instances are given to a privileged few, is generating a severe form of substance dependency.

To ask a disabled person to let go off his crutches is like asking a drug addict to go cold turkey. Maybe this is the only remaining option, but we don't have another 20 years to find out!