KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was visibly emotional as he personally opened the Vision 2020 time capsule, a moment filled with gratitude and reflection during a special ceremony at Menara Kuala Lumpur today.
He had buried the capsule more than 28 years ago.
The capsule, buried on Oct 1, 1996, contained various symbolic items that reflected Malaysia’s aspirations and hopes to achieve a developed nation status as outlined in the Vision 2020 agenda.
"I didn’t expect to see these items again. At the time, I thought I wouldn’t be around anymore.
"However, Alhamdulillah, I’ve been given the chance to open it and read the messages,” he said during a press conference, today.
He admitted that when the capsule was buried, he never anticipated living long enough to witness this historic moment.
"When I buried this capsule, I never expected to open it. By 2020, I would already be very old. I thought I wouldn’t live to see it. But now, even though it’s being opened late, I have been given this opportunity,” he said.
The capsule-opening ceremony was held in conjunction with the "Celebrate Raya with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad" programme organised by Kuala Lumpur Tower Sdn Bhd.
Various memorabilia were retrieved, including identification cards, photographs, telephones, press statements and a poem composed by Dr Mahathir himself.
He also praised the management of the Kuala Lumpur Tower for maintaining it well and ensuring it remained a symbol of the nation’s achievements since its construction.
"I hope this tower continues to symbolise the country’s progress. When this tower was built, there were no skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur. But now, Kuala Lumpur resembles New York, filled with tall buildings.
"InsyaAllah, I hope Kuala Lumpur continues to grow as a metropolitan hub for economic, political and social activities, contributing to the world,” he said.