Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : SRI PERDANA, KUALA LUMPUR
Tarikh/Date : 05/11/87
Tajuk/Title : THE OFFICIAL DINNER IN HONOUR OF
HIS EXCELLENCY MOHAMMAD KHAN JUNEJO,
PRIME MINISTER OF THE ISLAMIC
REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN
Your Excellency Mr. Mohammad Khan Junejo;
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of the Government and people of Malaysia I
would like to extend a very warm welcome to Your Excellency
on the occasion of your official visit to Malaysia. I
recall with fond memories the generous hospitality accorded
to me and my wife by the Government and people of Pakistan
during our visit to your beautiful country in March 1984.
Two years earlier, in 1982, we had the privilege of hosting
your President, His Excellency General Zia Ul-Haq. It is
therefore an honour and pleasure for me to be able to play
host to Your Excellency during your three-day visit to
Malaysia. As this is Your Excellency's first official
visit to Malaysia, I sincerely hope that your stay here,
though a brief one, will enable you to understand the varied
aspects of Malaysia and meet with some of our people.
Your Excellency
2. Pakistan and Malaysia have a long history of ties and
contacts. Our people share a common faith in Islam. We
have many things in common and our discussions earlier this
afternoon confirmed, once again, that Malaysia and Pakistan
share a mutuality of interests.
3. Both our countries are already engaged in a formal and
continuing dialogue through our Joint Committee on Economic
and Technical Cooperation. Your visit, Excellency, will no
doubt provide the impetus for further discussions as well
as contacts at other levels. But we welcome your visit
most for the friendship it brings and for the closeness
of ties between our two countries. Your visit will also
strengthen our common resolve to bring progress and
prosperity to our people and peace and security to our
region.
4. We in Malaysia follow with keen interest the
determination and urgency with which your Government is
pursuing socio-economic reforms to bring development to the
people where they are needed most. We pray for your success
in this endeavour. That you and your partners in SAARC are
also endeavouring to adopt regional approaches to achieve
the common good cannot but receive acclaim from us in this
region who have long believed in and derived benefits from
our own regional collaboration in ASEAN.
5. Pakistan and Malaysia can take pride in that we have
put into practice the principle of self-help. Your
nationals have received training in Malaysia, and ours in
Pakistan, in various technical fields. Pakistani
professionals have provided service in Malaysia and many
young Malaysians are enrolled in institutions of learning
in Pakistan. Malaysia is also appreciative of the warm
gesture of friendship shown by Pakistan by the provision
of places for Malaysian students in Pakistan's institutions
of higher learning,particularly, the special consideration
that has been given to us for additional places.
Excellency, we are now left with the task of exploring new
areas for technical and economic cooperation and
identifying weaknesses if any.
Your Excellency
6. Malaysia and Pakistan face the same problem of
inequities in international economic relations while
aspiring to deliver the benefits of development at home to
our people. In our endeavours we are beset with the
rising threat of protectionism and the so called "solutions"
reached by developed countries at our expense without due
regard to our needs. In response to this international
environment, we, the developing countries of the South, have
in some measure responded through the formation of the South
Commission. We both support the South Commission chaired
by H.E. Dr. Julius Nyerere which has the task of charting
a framework for cooperation among developing countries.
7. Our time is characterized by swirling changes and
perennial problems. Developing countries, particularly,
are confronted at both ends. The inequalities of the past,
economic and political, remain largely unresolved and yet
the challenges of the future in the wake of a revolution
in technology place developing countries in an even more
unequal and pre-carious situation. Options become limited.
In this context, it is comforting that Pakistan and Malaysia
are in the vanguard of efforts within the Non-Aligned
Movement and other affiliations to effect common positions
to overcome problems affecting developing countries. Sharing
common perspectives and approaches to the issues of our
time, Pakistan and Malaysia have worked together to
strengthen international solidarity to find solutions to the
problems of foreign occupation in Kampuchea and Afghanistan
which have destabilized our respective regions, the Israeli
occupation of Arab lands and their continued opposition to
the creation of the state of Palestine which is an affront
to the Ummah, and the inhumanity of apartheid which is an
abomination to civilized people everywhere. We share the
anguish over the unending conflict between the brotherly
nations of Iran and Iraq and we view with equal concern the
militarization and the dangerously escalating situation in
the Gulf.
8. The Soviet occupation of Afghanistan has not only posed
a threat to Pakistan's security but it has also burdened
Pakistan with millions of Afghan refugees escaping the
ravages of occupation of their country. The international
community should be appreciative of the continuing role
of Pakistan in this matter.
9. We observe with a deep sense of admiration that Pakistan
has been playing an active and motivating role in te O.I.C.
for the cause of the Ummah. Notable amongst these are your
contributions and role towards the promotion of Islamic
solidarity in the economic, social and educational fields,
and for the upliftment of Muslims all over the world.In this
regard, I am happy to see that both our countries have been
cooperating very closely and actively as an extension of our
close and warm bilateral relations.
Your Excellency
10. Your stay amongst us is altogether too short.
Nevertheless, we hope it will give you some impressions
about the efforts we are making to bring progress to our
people. And as we strive on with the task of national
consolidation in a common quest to better the lot of our
people, let us be mindful always about the rewards of
sharing which is indeed enjoined by Islam and the strength
we can derive from reciprocal assistance.
11. Let me say once again how delighted we are to have you
in our midst. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I now invite you to
join me in wishing for the continued good health and
happiness of the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan, to the continued prosperity and well-being of the
Government and people of Pakistan and to the ever-expanding
relations between Malaysia and the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan.
Thank you.
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