KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- The Islam Hadhari and 1Malaysia concepts must go hand in hand in the march towards a developed nation by 2020, said Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

"We aspire to build the country not only in term of stunning economic growth but also advancement of the civilisation, technology and socioculture and unity.

"For example, the second challenge of the Vision 2020 charts the attainment of a Malaysian community that has freedom, strength, and full of self confidence.

"This challenge is identical to the third principle of Islam Hadhari, that is freedom and independence to the people and both of them are harnessed in the 1Malaysia concept on exemplary culture to achieve the main goals," he said in a keynote address entitled '1Malaysia: National Character the Path of Islam Hadhari' at the Federal Territory Mosque here today.

Present was former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.