Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has said he is committed to making Malaysia a developed nation by 2020 despite doubts the goal is achievable, a report said today.

"Don't question my capacity to transform Malaysia into a developed nation by 2020," Abdullah said in a speech, according to the state Bernama news agency.

In May Abdullah unveiled the latest in a series of five-year development plans designed to make Malaysia the world's first developed Muslim nation.

The Ninth Malaysia Plan targets economic growth of 6.0 percent until 2010 and is aimed at succeeding where eight others have failed - to bridge a chasm between rich urbanites and poor rural villagers.

Timeframe is not long

However, it was met with scepticism from economists who said the government faced a tough task given that economic growth averaged just 4.5 percent between 2001 and 2005. A 6.0 percent expansion is targeted for 2006.

Abdullah insisted that the Ninth Malaysia Plan, which is targeted at reducing poverty, provided a tool for whoever leads the nation over coming years to ensure Malaysia attained developed status.

"We only have 15 more years to become a developed race and a developed nation and this timeframe is not long," he said, urging citizens to play their role in realising the government's plans.

"We want to develop the country according to our own way and not the western way and because of this, we want Malaysians to become a race with strong moral values," he added.