Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	THE MALAYSIAN HIGH COMMISSION 
			IN LONDON 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	24/05/89 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	REMARKS BY THE HONOURABLE DATO SERI 
			DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD THE PRIME 
			MINISTER OF MALAYSIA AT THE 
			PRESENTATION OF THE HONORARY FREEDOM
			OF THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY 
			OF CARPENTERS 




 Master,
Wardens,
Gentlemen and Ladies;
    It  is  a great honour to be admitted to the freedom of
the    Worshipful   Company   of   Carpenters.   This  is  a
distinguished  and ancient company.  Indeed the mention of a
Master  Carpenter  is  documented as early as the thirteenth
century.  I  therefore  pay  tribute to the great traditions
which   this  company  honours.  This has been for me a very
special  occasion.  My  only  regret is that I have not been
able   to attend the traditional lunch.
2.   Carpentry has from my early  days  given  me  countless
hours  of  satisfaction.  And  today,  it  is  a  means   of
relaxation  for  me.  There  is nothing I enjoy more than to
retreat from the cares of government into my own workshop.
3.   In this ceremony, we honour the skills of craftsmanship
itself.    People  imagine that if you are a Prime Minister,
you deal only in grand designs and gestures.   If only  this
were true!
4.   In  my  experience,  statecraft  is indeed a craft.  It
requires all the qualities of craftsmanship namely,
     -    personal commitment and endeavour
     -    attention to detail
     -    learning always from experience
     -    and satisfaction in achievement.
5.   In  Malaysia,  among  other  things,  we are seeking to
instil these values in our children.  We want  every  child,
wherever possible, to have a trade or a  skill.  It  is  not
just  because  of  the contribution they can make towards  a
stronger economy  but  for  a still  more  important reason;
a skill  brings to a person capability, pride and dignity.
6.   In the age of science and technology, it is tempting to
over-value the wizardry of machinery and to under-value  the
skill of people.
7.   Today,  I  detect  here  in  Britain, as in Malaysia, a
return to placing a high value on craftmanship.  Long may it
continue.
     Thank you.

 
 



 









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