JOHOR BAHARU, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has urged all races in the country to preserve the cooperative agreement forged between them as a national legacy.

The Prime Minister said the agreement was a proven formula for the country to achieve success.

"It is a formula bequeathed to us, which we must treasure and protect, so that it may continue to bring us success," he said when launching the Merdeka Month Celebration and Fly the Jalur Gemilang Campaign 2005 here Wednesday night before a crowd estimated at 300,000.

Abdullah said what had begun as an agreement between the leaders of the independence movement was now a formula that protected the country against foreign encroachment.

He said it also inspired Malaysians to defend their country's independence all this time.

Abdullah said he was convinced the racial unity, which was the result of the agreement and supported by the patriotic younger generation, would underpin efforts to achieve the national aspiration of becoming a developed nation by 2020.

He said the efforts were being strengthened by the increasing number of young Malaysians skilled in many fields who were the products of a successful education programme.

"Our nation is progressing because we have Malaysians capable of developing the country.

"With more Malaysians gaining expertise in fields like information technology, engineering and others, and imbued with a strong spirit of patriotism and will to succeed, we will surely see enormous contributions to our development," he added.

He called for stepped up efforts to realise Vision 2020 as there were only 14 years remaining to reach that goal.

Abdullah also asked the people to continue to ensure the country was administered by a government that represented all the races.

He said the government the people elected had proven its capability to implement policies that had taken the country to higher levels as well as making Malaysia respected in the world.

"The progress made by the country is the result of the people's wishes, and the success we have achieved is the result of the people's efforts," he said.

-- BERNAMA