Malaysia’s long term vision remains Mr. Mahathir Mohamed’s Vision 2020. This vision sets out nine challenges that Malaysia must overcome to became a fully developed nation in “our own” mould. This vision sets out national unity as the number one priority.

The first of these is the challenges of establishing a united Malaysian nation with a sense of common and shared destiny. This must be a nation at peace with itself, territorially and ethnically integrated, living in harmony and full and fair partnership, made up of one ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ with political loyalty and dedication to the nation.

I wonder what would Mr. Mahathir Mohamed think of this survey findings.

92% of young Muslims are happy with their lives

70% want the Quran to replace the Federal Constitution of Malaysia (my emphasis)

93% trust their parents and feel that they care for them

71% believe that a good democracy needs opposition parties

66% have not registered as voters

36% do not always fast during Ramadan, 31% do not always pray five times a day

80% view themselves first and foremost as Muslims, 15% as Malaysian citizens (my emphasis)

73% reject polygamy

91% do not approve of pre-marital sex

Those are just some highlights from Muslim Youth Survey Malaysia 2010. With inter-ethnic and inter-religious distrust on the rise, will Malaysia ever achieve Mahathir Mohamed’s Vision 2020 or will things change fundamentally in the future, away from Malaysia’s present hybrid secular state?