How Malaysia Missed 7 Chances at Nation Building! But could be great again! If... - Mohammed Hussein

How Malaysia Missed 7 Chances at Nation Building is about reflections on certain events of Malaysia’s history, and what we can learn from them in charting the course to fulfil our aspirations going forward. 

It is written by Dato’ Mohammed Hussein (MH), who held various key senior management  positions in his 31-year career with Maybank before his retirement as Deputy President/Chief Financial Officer in 2008.

MH also held multiple chairmanships of diverse major companies such as Gamuda Berhad, Danajamin Berhad, Hap Seng Plantations Berhad, Takaful Malaysia Berhad and Credit Guarantee Corporation Berhad.   

He is described by one of the reviewers of the book as “a consummate corporate insider in his seventh decade”. 

The author has applied a critical eye and dry wit to seven events spanning 79 years that affected Malaysia’s journey from the end of World War II to 2024. 

“Did we make the right decisions and seize the carpe diem opportunities of nation-building?” is the perspective from which the author analyses the seven critical events in the book. 

Mohammed Hussein, - Photo credit: The Star

After 67 years of independence, is Malaysia a dynamic, prosperous, integrated nation at peace with itself? 

This is the question he posed to the reader at the conclusion of his book. 

He challenges the reader to ask ‘Are we in the state of kesejahteraan”’, and identifies the ‘elephants in the room’ - the enduring legacy issues that have hindered our aspirations since independence.

The book is divided into two parts and 12 chapters:

Part One or ‘Reflections’ tells the story of these nation-changing events by masterfully weaving facts from documented sources, with anecdotes from in-depth interviews to provide an alternative, perhaps contentious argument of ‘what might have been’ if our leaders at the time had made different choices such as after the surrender of Japan and May 13. 

The author analyses the effectiveness of the NEP and the Bumiputera Agenda unflinchingly. 

Only-recently-revealed details including the ‘Six-Eyed Agreement’, gives a different perspective on past events and personalities. 

Part Two titled ‘Aspirations’ provides long term and short term solutions, addresses the unintended consequences that arose from the NEP, suggests how a new Bumiputera economic model should be implemented. 

It stresses the critical importance that policies and execution must be in alignment with the goal of nation-building to deliver what Malaysians aspire for.  

Despite the critical and frank point of view, the author is hopeful;

“But we are not in shambles. Many ingredients of success are still intact. 

"We could be great again, but the road to greatness will have to begin by an acknowledgement of our problems – the elephants in the room, and the willingness to reprogram ourselves.” - KitaReporters/Media Release

Mohammed Hussein (MH) spent 31 years of his working career with Maybank, the largest financial services group in Malaysia. 

He served in various top management positions prior to his retirement in 2008 as Chief Financial Officer/Deputy President.  

He has pursued an active retirement as chairman of several listed and unlisted companies including Gamuda (2013-2022) and Danajamin (2009 – 2018), Credit Guarantee Corporation Berhad, Hap Seng Plantations Berhad and Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad. 

He was also the chairman of Bank-Negara sponsored Corporate Debt Restructuring Committee, formed after the global financial crisis in 2008 and as an independent non-executive director in several companies in Singapore (CapitaCommercial Trust REIT), Pakistan (MCB Bank Ltd.) and Indonesia (Syarikat Takaful Indonesia PT) as well as a member of the Mastercard International Asia-Pacific Advisory Board. 

MH also designed the Danajamin100 Youth Leadership Program – Building Leaders of Tomorrow and the CGC100 Entrepreneurial Development Program.

MH graduated with Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from the University of Newcastle, Australia. 

He is a Fellow of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers and an alumnus of the Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School, Boston, USA. Currently, he is also Professor of Practice at INCEIF University, Kuala Lumpur. 

MH published his first book, Seeking A Life Balance, under his pseudonym Elm Edge in 2023.