Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	SRI PERDANA, KUALA LUMPUR 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	17/03/88 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE OFFICIAL DINNER IN HONOUR OF 
			HIS EXCELLENCY MR. POUL SCHLUTER 
			PRIME MINISTER OF DENMARK 




 Your Excellency Mr. Poul Schluter,
     Prime Minister of Denmark;
Excellencies;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
    On  behalf  of  the  Government  and people of Malaysia
allow  me  to  extend  a very warm welcome to you and  other
distinguished members of your delegation.  I am particularly
delighted by your visit as it rekindles  the  many  pleasant
memories  that I had brought back with me from my last visit
to your beautiful country.  Indeed, your return visit  is  a
clear demonstration of your expression of friendship towards
Malaysia.  We reciprocate this whole-heartedly.
2.   It  is  my  sincere  hope that you will have a pleasant
stay in Malaysia just as it is our pleasure and honour to be
your host.  I look forward to the discussions which we  will
be  having  tomorrow  which  I  believe will provide a clear
insight  into  our mutual and respective concerns, both near
and far. I would also welcome your views  on  bilateral  and
international  issues  that  would  help  generate   greater
cooperation and understanding between our two countries.
Your Excellency,
3.   A  bilateral  visit  of  this  kind is certainly a good
occasion  to review the state of our relations.  It provides
us with  an  opportunity to assess the progress made as well
as  the  various  shortcomings  that need to  be overcome to
further strengthen our bilateral relations. I must say  that
the climate  of political cooperation that exist between our
two  countries  continues  to  remain good and healthy.  The
inherent  goodwill  on  both sides engendered over the years
continues  to  find  positive  expression  in  the   various
endeavours undertaken by our countries either bilaterally or
multilaterally.
4.   I  note  that  the  record  low  prices  of commodities
encountered  over  the  past few years had brought  about  a
decline in value  terms  of  Malaysia's  exports  to Denmark
although in quantitative terms the Danish  market  continues
to  register  increasing  off-takes from Malaysia.  Malaysia
hopes to over- come the persistent trade deficit faced so as
to establish a more balanced trade relations  with  Denmark.
It  is  also  our hope to fully tap the growing potential of
the  Danish  market  and  to  develop  Denmark into a  major
distributing  centre  for  Malaysia's  exports to the Nordic
countries.  I  believe  that  cooperative   efforts  towards
realising  these objectives  would  be  a  positive  step in
increasing  the  overall trade between our two countries.
5.   Whilst  various  incentives  have  been  offered by the
Malaysian Government, the growth of  Danish  investments  in
Malaysia has not reflected Denmark's real potential.  I hope
an  attitudinal  change  could be effected by leaders of the
Danish industry so that the quantum of Danish  participation
and investment in Malaysia could be significantly increased.
It  is  indeed  in  our interest to welcome your capital and
technology just as it is in your interest to partake of  the
benefits of our economic development.
6.   Notwithstanding    the    modest   bilateral   economic
collaborations,  I  am  particularly grateful to Denmark for
the  positive  attitude  displayed in those areas of special
interest to  Malaysia.  Your technical assistance and credit
line  facilities  have  been well received and beneficial to
us,  for    which we would like to express our appreciation.
Similarly,  your  steadfast  opposition  to   the   European
Community's  proposed  levy on vegetable and marine oils and
fats is greatly appreciated by Malaysia, as a major producer
of palm oil. Malaysia too recognises Denmark's positive role
in  absorbing  some  of  the  refugees given first asylum by
Malaysia.  We are  aware  of  the  constraints  and domestic
pressures  encountered by your government on this matter but
would nevertheless appreciate  Denmark's  continued  role in
helping to reduce the number  of refugees  that  Malaysia is
presently saddled with.
Your Excellency,
7.   I am pleased with the commonality of views that we have
over a wide range of international  issues  of  interest  to
both countries.  Of particular concern to us is the state of
East-West  relations.  We have a common need to exercise our
influence, however limited, in shaping the course of  events
towards securing international peace and security.
8.   The  world  has  come  a long way since the days of the
cold war.  We recall the brinkmanship displayed  during  the
Berlin  blockade  and  the  Cuban  missile  crisis  and  how
relieved the world was when statesmanship won the  day.  The
question  that  faces  us  is whether the world today is any
safer than in the days of the cold war.  Are the big  powers
really  sincere  when  they  decided to remove and dismantle
their intermediate missiles or are  they  merely  discarding
out  of  date weaponry in favour of more lethal state of the
art weapons?   Are we  really  heading  for  disarmament  or
greater  sophistication in the big powers' capacity for mass
destruction?
9.   Whilst the superpowers grappled  with  their  strategic
equations, seemingly in the interest of peace on earth, they
seem  to  be  involved directly or indirectly in a number of
local conflicts.   While the countries of  the  Third  World
welcome  the  INF  treaty, we would like to reduce the proxy
wars fought on our soil.  We have no wish to be destroyed in
order to prove which conventional weapon is most  effective.
We  want peace in order to develop our countries and to give
a better life to our people.
10.  If the environment in Europe has seemingly changed  for
the  better  the environment in Southeast Asia has not.  The
end of the war in Vietnam should have brought peace  to  our
region.    But  unfortunately,  Vietnam  decided  to  invade
Kampuchea.  We  are  still  searching  for  a  comprehensive
political solution to this unnecessary and unfortunate state
of  affairs.    ASEAN  will persevere and is appreciative of
the support extended by Denmark to all its efforts.
Your Excellency,
11.  I trust your visit has afforded you the opportunity  to
gauge  at first hand the dynamics of the social and economic
engineering taking place in Malaysia.  This onerous task has
to be undertaken by us because we had no  control  over  our
population   when   we  were  colonised.   Our   multiracial
population  is  by  comparison  to other similar  population
fairly harmonious. We would appreciate greater understanding
of our problems by our friends.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
12.  May I now invite you to raise your glasses in  a  toast
to  His  Excellency  Mr.  Poul  Schluter  and to the lasting
friendship between the peoples of Denmark and Malaysia.