Malaysia was once regarded as one of Asia’s four economic tigers, alongside South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore.
However, Mohammed said much of Malaysia’s potential had diminished due to short-term decision-making and an over reliance on temporary solutions.
While the country made significant progress in infrastructure, Mohammed said inconsistent policies and political compromises had weakened its social and economic foundations.
The book, which took six years to complete, stemmed from what Mohammed described as frustration over Malaysia’s missed potential.
His research involved extensive visits to archives, including those in the United Kingdom, where he examined declassified British cabinet papers for insights into Malaya’s early independence negotiations from the British viewpoint.
“I had to ensure my research was solid. If I had got my facts wrong, people would laugh at me.
“I spent years going through archives, including in London, to understand the British perspective on Malaya’s independence.
“The declassified documents provided a fresh viewpoint that many history books don’t capture,” he added.
When asked which of the seven missed opportunities he considered the most critical, Mohammed indicated education and leadership.
“If we had gotten education right, all our problems today would have been minimised.
“Education is the key to human capital development.
“It impacts everything – civil service efficiency, business sector growth, policy implementation and even corruption.”
“But to achieve that, we needed decisive leadership without shortcuts,” he said.
During the talk, he expressed hope that the current and future generations would learn from the historical lessons.
“We have 33 years before Malaysia reaches its 100th year of independence.
“It is the responsibility of the next generation to learn from the past and avoid the same mistakes,” said Mohammed.
During the session, the ideology of nationalism was discussed in the context of nation-building in Malaysia’s multiracial society, with Liyana sharing her perspective on how it has evolved in the country.
She said the term has been misused to serve racial narratives rather than true nation-building.
“Nationalism has been hijacked to promote racial agendas rather than nation-building.
“We need to redefine nationalism as love for the nation, not just for one race,” she added.
Liyana said the need for a shift in mindset, particularly among younger generations, to see nationalism as an inclusive concept rather than an exclusive one.
The session drew a lively exchange during the Q&A session.
Some audience members raised questions about leadership, education and economic development while some reflected on the country’s political climate, and others sought insights into how Malaysia could move forward.
Since the book’s release last August, Mohammed said his initial sales expectations have been met.
He is considering a translation into Bahasa Malaysia, but is looking for a translator who can retain the conversational yet analytical tone of the original work.
“My writing style is casual and conversational but it carries a serious message.
“I need to find someone who can translate it without losing that tone,” he said.
The event wrapped up with a book-signing session, where attendees spoke further with the author about his research and findings.
How Malaysia Missed 7 Chances at Nation Building, in paperback, is priced at RM70.
