What is going to be the future?
---So,why do you ask?
Because I want to know my future.
---By the time it arrives,it will be now.
You mean I don't have my future??
 

"If I know what is the future,I will be a millionire!",said a friend to me.When I enquired how, he replied:"Simple my friend.Just buy the shares that are going to go up in price and  sell them at the highest!".I don't blame him for quoting the stock market.Lately,it has been rising like there is no tomorrow and by the time I finish typing this article it will be more than 1000.Both of us laughed because we know that no one will ever know the future.That is the secret of God.The most, we can only predict.The future is what we are building everyday.However,one thing I am sure,that the future is not only just about the stock market.It is about our life and the life of our children and grand-children.

When our laughters died down, a chill scary thought came to me.What will be Malaysia and the world in 2050 ,considering the potential of environmental disasters that will take place around that period?According to a Unesco Report,
a third of the world population will be having inadequate water for drinking as well as for food production.What about other commodities,and not to mention other political,economic and social issues of that time.It may  not be during my life time but it is the life time of my children and grand-children.Actually this planet does not belong to us,it was handed over by our parents and grand- parents to us  for safe-keeping so that we can hand-over to our children and grand-children.

Malaysia has adopted a National Agenda called Vision 2020.It is the country future.It is a grand vision and I personally support it.For that ,I thanked our PM Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohammad.I hope to be around to see how it comes out.We have now less than  20 years  to achieve that vision as time is clicking every second.To my simple mind,Vision 2020 is similar to company P&L and Balance Sheet.It is summary of annual business transactions;in this case it is a 20 -year period.Whatever we are trading to-day and everyday will contribute to our bottom line.It is the cumulative sum of the next 20 years.

I think Malaysia now has her hands full from all aspects,be it political,economic and social.The year 2000 is a good year to start a corporate review.We need to re-examine and evaluate our operation,assets and liabilities.In case of companies, it is the management and the directors responsibilities.In case of the nation,it is the political leaders and the bureaucrats.All of us Malaysians are shareholders in this 'company' called Malaysia.Similarly,we ought to do the same with our personal life,our own future...

Talking about ordinary  shareholders in the context of Malaysian pulic listed companies,most are not bothered to even attend the AGM.They bought the shares with the intention to sell when the price reach their sale target.Some even don't bother to register their shares.That is how short term investors they are. Most shareholders only care about their personal investments,but not the interest of the company as a whole.At the board level,normally the chairman and the managing director are really doing the work;the rest of the directors are just warming the seats to collect their fees.The management team not only being paid high salaries,but somtimes mess up  the  company's fund.This also applies to  some  major shareholders.To them, everything has a price.They will sell to highest bidders even at the expense of the other minority shareholders.A few have been  prosecuted and being hunted for CBT.However,there are also companies being well managed and adhere to good corporate governance.

Coming back to the future of Malaysia(including our future),it is up to all of us really.We don't have to look far-just across the borders.One has really gone to the dogs.The other is doing fine despite the last recession.Just do the simple comparison.Whatever happens to Malaysia,it will affect us ,one way or the other.It will affect our our future.In the event we sleep through the journey,our destination will be decided by the driver.It is imperative that we all make sure that the driver bring us to our choice destination.

In case we do not know where we are going and what is going on ,we must be sleeping all the way.Happy dream and I pray that we do not wake up to a nightmare!
 

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