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by Datuk Tony Fernandes

Firstly, it goes without saying that my first wish for the next 50 years is that there is no protection of any kind in Malaysia. That we are truly a free market.

History has shown that protection of any sort benefits no one, not even the protected. AirAsia had no protection in its business turnaround, but look at us now. AirAsia has revolutionised air travel in Asia and has carried 40 million people and grown from two to 60 planes, from 200,000 passengers a year to 18 million (more than SIA, Emirates and Cathay), built a brand that’s bigger than SIA, created jobs for 5,000 people, developed new technology, established the most advanced training school, and is involved in developing the first independent MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) in Malaysia.

Malaysia has to be confident in its people and its institutions to stand tall and go out there and compete with the world. We must rid ourselves of our chip on our shoulder and prepare to compete.

Globalisation is here and the quicker we realise that, the better.

I hope that we have, once again, a world class civil service; a civil service that is there to help the people and help business, to supplement and grow the economy, to cut down on bureaucracy and to find ways to help entrepreneurs.

We must again be world class as a police force and a judiciary. Law and order is fundamental to a successful economy and we must have the best and the most respected, as we did before.

I hope that Malaysia is a driver in the economic integration of Asean. We must integrate and utilise each other strengths.

With India and China powering on an economy of 600 million that will stand up much better to globalisation, I hope we have one currency and one standard across many areas. That will lower the cost of business and open up so much opportunity. The free movement of labour and the identity of Asean will be crucial to growth.

We should not be worried about this. Look at Europe and Nafta (the North American Free Trade Agreement). Both have been resoundingly successful.

One day, maybe Senai will be the low-cost airport of Singapore and Malaysia. And maybe Tiger and Lion Air will be flying domestic. Why not? We should give more choices to consumers.

One Asean bourse. One Asean railway. The list is endless. And within Asean, there would be no borders, and there would be Asean banks. Wouldn’t that be great?

AirAsia has been very clear that it’s an Asean brand flying to more than 80 destinations and carrying 40 million people all over Asean.

And what of sport and culture? Would it not be great if we had sporting and cultural functions that were truly Asean?

But there are few opportunities to promote ourselves at Asean events. Would it not be great if we had an Asean league for football or basketball? A league in football where there are clubs all over Asean. Imagine Kuala Lumpur vs Singapore. Or Bangkok United vs Jakarta City.

All off the above cannot be possible without great people. So, I hope in 50 years time, well honestly, in 50 days time, we start a blueprint to have world class education.

We must have people with creative thinking who are capable of intellectual debate, and provide our kids with an all-round education. What do I mean by all-round education? I mean institutions that not only promote academic excellence but encourage students to excel in sports, drama and music.

It’s in sports that kids have their first taste of management and teamwork. It’s in music and drama that kids have a chance to express themselves and exude creativity.

And it’s from there that we will get creative business people, civil servants and entrepreneurs.

I hope we have institutions which are multiracial and comprise people from all corners of the world; institutions that not only attract the best academia but also the best students. Institutions that have all kinds of societies so our kids have diversity.

That’s my hope and dream. As I always say, believe the unbelievable, dream the impossible and never take no for an answer.

Datuk Tony Fernandes is AirAsia chief executive officer.

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