In order to express the generic notion we seek, something like “polity building” or “country building” or — to be more specific to our discussion — “Malaysia building” is more appropriate and promising. What do we mean when we say “our nation-building — or state-building or national economy building — is succeeding”? In many ways, therefore, the state-building aspect of Malaysia building is back at square one. We should take pause here to recognise the strong linkages in East and Southeast Asia between state-building and national economy building, best expressed within by the concept of “political economy”. But in general, for national economy building to succeed, integration of the citizenry through effective universal education and meaningful participation in a growing economy are the measures of success.
