Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : PUTRA WORLD TRADE CENTRE (PWTC),
KUALA LUMPUR (K.L)
Tarikh/Date : 03/11/90
Tajuk/Title : THE DINNER HOSTED BY BARISAN
NASIONAL IN HONOUR OF DR. NELSON
MANDELA DEP. PRESIDENT OF THE
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
The Honourable Dr. Nelson Mandela,
Deputy President of the African National Congress;
Members of the ANC;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
We are deeply honoured to welcome in our midst this
evening a truly great son of Africa, Dr. Nelson Mandela, the
Deputy President of the African National Congress. On be-
half of the Government and people of Malaysia, may I extend
to you, Dr. Mandela, and members of your delegation, our
very warm welcome. You will always find in the people of
Malaysia the warmth and spirit of brotherhood and the strong
support for your struggle.
2. This evening is indeed an historic occasion for
Malaysia - historic because we are able to meet in person a
giant of a man whose very name MANDELA has come to symbolise
the struggle by the people of South Africa for freedom, for
democracy and for basic human rights. For many of us you
have come to epitomise fortitude and perseverance. We can
see for ourselves that your long years of imprisonment have
only served to strengthen your spirit, your determination
and your commitment to the cause of dismantling apartheid
and bringing democracy and justice to the peoples of South
Africa.
3. Malaysia has been a staunch supporter of the anti-
apartheid cause. We have followed with concern the struggle
of the people of South Africa for freedom and for democracy.
We have shared in spirit the pain and the sufferings which
you and your colleagues have gone through in your years of
imprisonment in the bid to pursue your cause. Like you, we
have never lost faith that the day will come when democracy
will be upheld in South Africa.
4. We are therefore most encouraged by developments in
South Africa over the past year since President De Klerk
came into power; events which indicate that things may be
moving closer to the dismantling of apartheid in the coun-
try. Beginning with President De Klerk's inaugural pledge
to achieve a new South Africa free from white domination and
oppression, the world has witnessed developments taking
place in South Africa which could not have been envisaged
two years ago. The world has lauded your release from
prison; the release of other political prisoners; the unban-
ning of the African National Congress and other anti-
apartheid groups; the lifting of the state of emergency in
the various provinces of South Africa including that of
Natal recently; and other pledges by President De Klerk to
dismantle the pillars of apartheid. The decision of the
African National Congress to suspend armed struggle has also
contributed positively to creating a climate conducive for
negotiations.
5. These developments have made it possible for you, Dr.
Mandela, to be with us this evening, thousands of miles away
from the prison cell which has for more than twenty-seven
years kept you captive in person but not in spirit. These
developments have been brought about partly by the contin-
uous pressure which the international community has been
putting on the Pretoria regime over many decades to disman-
tle the abominable system of institutionalised discrimi-
nation and oppression called apartheid - a system which
segregates man from man according to the colour of his skin;
a system which is totally unacceptable in this day and age.
6. Encouraged though we are by the developments in South
Africa of late, apartheid is still in place. We share your
concern, Dr. Mandela, that the international community can-
not at this stage release the pressure on Pretoria. It may
take many months yet for the dialogue which Pretoria has in-
itiated with the ANC to show evidence that recent progress
towards dismantling apartheid is irreversible and that the
system itself will be dismantled. Until then, Malaysia will
continue to maintain the pressure on the South African gov-
ernment through economic and other sanctions. We would like
to urge other nations to do the same. We do not share the
assessment of some Western nations that President De Klerk
has to be rewarded at this stage for the reforms he has ini-
tiated.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
7. I believe it is important that we maintain the momentum
of developments in South Africa. All parties concerned
should exert every effort to ensure a successful outcome to
the ongoing negotiations between the ANC and the South
African government. As a member of the Commonwealth Commit-
tee of Foreign Ministers on Southern Africa (CFMSA),
Malaysia has been monitoring closely the developments in
South Africa and has participated with other members of the
Committee in a continuous review of the situation there and
of the international community's response to these develop-
ments. The Committee has had the benefit of your presence
and your assessment of the situation when the Committee met
in Abuja, Nigeria, in mid-May this year. We will continue
to be guided by your perception.
8. Events since then have caused some concern to Malaysia.
I refer to the armed clashes between various anti-apartheid
groups in South Africa which have resulted in the loss of
hundreds of lives over the past few months. I fear that
this inter-factional violence, if allowed to continue, can
undermine the progress made thus far towards dismantling
apartheid. But I am sure that this problem is uppermost in
your mind and that you will exert every effort and influence
to contain it.
9. Your personal presence here in Malaysia, Dr. Mandela,
brings home the realisation to many of us that democracy is
not to be taken for granted by countries which have already
obtained independence. It is a precious right which is to
be protected and nurtured. It is a precious right which
those of us in the Commonwealth are trying to strengthen.
10. Here in Malaysia, we have just completed our general
election, and the results have demonstrated once again a
victory for the people and democracy. It has been a keenly-
contested election, but the people have made their choice
clearly and unequivocally. The people of Malaysia are
grateful that inspite of the various racial, ethnic and re-
ligious differences which are inherent in the social fabric
of the Malaysian society, we have been able to exercise pol-
itical freedom, unhampered, for the last 33 years. The
leaders of Barisan Nasional, the ruling coalition, who are
your hosts tonight, offer you our prayers that the people of
South Africa will also be able to enjoy this right free from
violence in the near future and in the years to come.
Malaysians will be among the first to rejoice on the day
when you and each and every South African, irrespective of
the colour of his skin, are able to determine South Africa's
future through the ballot box.
11. Dr. Mandela, as I have said earlier in my speech, you
have come to epitomise for many of us fortitude and perse-
verance. You have demonstrated strength and patience in
your struggle against apartheid. You have sacrificed a
lifetime to bring justice and democracy to your people.
Your efforts will not be in vain. The international commu-
nity will ensure that your objectives will be achieved.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
12. I would like to invite distinguished guests present to-
night to rise and to drink to the good health of Dr. Nelson
Mandela and to the success of his people's struggle against
apartheid.
|
|