PUTRAJAYA, Aug 8 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today his plan to transform the country was not solely his own, but a “grand vision” that spans across the tenures of three prime ministers, starting with that of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

After taking office in April 2009, Najib made transformation a cornerstone of his administration’s aim of turning Malaysia into a developed nation come 2020, launching a slew of programmes targeting the country’s economy, governance and politics.

Today, Najib said the timeline for the proposed reforms was based on Dr Mahathir’s Vision 2020.

"The transformation I have started is a continuation of what was started during Dr Mahathir's time in order to achieve Vision 2020, which was articulated by Dr Mahathir, supported by Pak Lah, now it's my time,” the prime minister said during the government’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Seri Perdana today.

“Now I have to deliver it.”

Najib succeeded Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as prime minister in 2009, while the latter took over from Dr Mahathir in 2003.

"This is a continuation of three prime ministers, if you like, to accomplish our grand vision for Malaysia," Najib told reporters after a teleconference here with Malaysians residing abroad.

Earlier today, The Malay Mail Online reported Abdullah as saying in his book that Najib's biggest challenge in reforming the country will come from Umno itself.

"Najib is trying to do many good things. He is trying to transform the economy, the government and make changes.

"But he faces the same problem that I did ― resistance," Malaysia's fifth prime minister wrote in a 620-page book titled "Awakenings: The Abdullah Badawi Years in Malaysia", which is due to be released to the public next week.

During the same press conference, Najib also touched on the complexity in transforming Umno.

The Umno president said that the reform process for the party started with a change to its constitution, but noted that the entire process would take time, possibly even a "few generations".

"But for Umno to be relevant as a political party, Umno must change with the times so that we reflect the changing attitude, the values of society, the expectations of society.

"I believe Umno has gotten the message. Like any political party, it takes time to change but you must also understand that Umno is a party that is in power and it is easy to criticise a party in power," said the leader of Barisan Nasional (BN)'s lynchpin party Umno.

Najib said it was easy for the opposition to make promises, but also reminded the people that many political parties globally have failed to deliver on their promises of hope.

BN had previously touted its catchphrase "Janji Ditepati" (Promises Fulfilled), pointing at what it said was its track record of fulfilled promises to the people, when contesting against the informal pact of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) during Election 2013.

When asked for comments on Abdullah's book, Najib said he will reserve his comments until after he has read it.