His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, Chancellor of Universiti Malaya, officiated the book launch of "MALAYSIA'S LEAP INTO THE FUTURE: THE BUILDING BLOCKS TOWARDS BALANCED DEVELOPMENT" organized by the Asia-Europe Institute Universiti Malaya. The book's editors are Rajah Rasiah, Cheong Kee Cheok and Kamal Salih.
The book covers the future development of Malaysia, including topics like reducing poverty and income inequality, managing population and urbanization, promoting technological progress and education, improving finance and labor, protecting the environment, and providing good healthcare. It also discusses the decline of the agricultural sector, Malaysia's economic growth compared to other countries in the region, and projections of population and demographic change; and how they relate to government policies. It suggests using a needs-based approach instead of an ethnic-based one to build a more pluralistic society.
"It is our belief that the building blocks presented in this book will initiate further deliberations among the stakeholders with a view towards contributing to constructing a better Malaysia", said the book editors.
Distinguished Professor Dato' Dr.. Rajah Rasiah, the Executive Director of Asia- Europe Institute, officially began the ceremony with his welcoming remark and continued his speech with the book review. Then, the royal address presented by His Royal Highness. The Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaya, Professor Dato' Dr. Mohd Hamdi Abdul Shukor, presented the book to His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah as a symbol of launching.
Malaysia's Leap into the Future is 357 pages and is now available in ebook and print versions at Springer Link.