Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : SRI PERDANA, KUALA LUMPUR
Tarikh/Date : 06/01/93
Tajuk/Title : THE OFFICIAL DINNER IN HONOUR OF
HIS EXCELLENCY MR. CHUAN LEEKPAI
PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND
It is indeed a great pleasure for me to welcome Your
Excellency and distinguished members of your delegation to
Kuala Lumpur on your first official visit to Malaysia since
assuming office as Prime Minister of Thailand. We view the
presence of several of your Cabinet colleagues and important
members of the private sector in your delegation as very
significant, symbolising the close economic and political
relations that exist between our two countries. I look for-
ward to the opportunity of having close consultations and
exchange of views with you during the course of this visit
on ways to further enhance these relations.
2. Built firmly on the foundation of close traditional
ties and in the spirit of good neighbourliness, Malaysia and
Thailand have, over the years, built an impressive network
of cooperation. This has brought about great success in the
fight against communist terrorists along our common border,
which culminated in the elimination of the communist threat
in 1990. We have equally benefitted from our cooperation in
such fields as anti-drug trafficking measures, agriculture,
transport and communications.
3. It is indeed gratifying that the Malaysia-Thailand
Joint Authority, the establishment of which was decided in
1979 to jointly explore and exploit non-living resources in
the overlapping continental shelf area of both countries,
has now been formed and its headquarters established in
Kuala Lumpur. I am confident that the Joint Authority will
yet be another example of tangible cooperation between our
two countries.
4. Trade between the two countries has also increased
steadily over the years. In 1987, total bilateral trade
amounted to 2.4 billion Malaysian Ringgit and in 1991 it was
5.4 billion Malaysian Ringgit. Thailand today is Malaysia's
second largest trading partner in ASEAN and 14th largest
foreign investor.
5. Notwithstanding these impressive range of cooperation,
more need to be done in order to tap the full potential of
trade and economic opportunities available in each other's
country. For this reason I am particularly happy that you
have included in your delegation prominent leaders from the
government as well as the private sector. I hope that this
visit would give them the opportunity to learn more about
the opportunities available in this country and would spur
them to further strengthen the economic and trade links be-
tween Malaysia and Thailand. The ending of the communist
threat along our common border had opened new scope for co-
operation both at government and private sector levels in
the economic as well as social fields.
6. The need for closer trade and economic ties between our
two countries and between ASEAN as a whole cannot be over-
emphasised. In line with the decision of the Fourth ASEAN
Summit, we have moved towards the implementation of the CEPT
arrangement and eventually AFTA. For AFTA to be meaningful,
trade and investment between ASEAN nations must be substan-
tially increased. I submit that earnest efforts in this di-
rection must be made now so that ASEAN can quickly grow into
a truly dynamic organisation capable of meeting the chal-
lenges posed by the emergence of regional economic groupings
in other parts of the world. We must be prepared to examine
different concepts and levels of cooperation that would con-
tribute to the strengthening of ASEAN as a whole.
Malaysia's keenness to discuss with the Governments of
Thailand and Indonesia on a sub-regional approach to eco-
nomic cooperation, specifically the Northern Growth Triangle
involving the northern states of Malaysia and the provinces
of South Thailand and Northern Sumatera, was motivated by
this desire. Considering the mutual advantages to be
gained, I trust that you, Mr. Prime Minister, would give the
idea due consideration and attention. It is only through
greater economic strength and cohesion can ASEAN play an ef-
fective role in safeguarding its interests in the larger
world, including the protection of free trade which is so
vital to ASEAN's prosperity.
7. Talking about the protection of free trade, on
Malaysia's initiative ASEAN had accepted the concept of an
East Asia Economic Caucus and ASEAN officials have been
tasked with deliberating on ways to advance and implement
the concept, the central objective of which is to provide a
forum for consultation on free trade and other related de-
velopment issues. Let me say how much we appreciate
Thailand's support for the concept which we see as vital in
the light of the emerging protectionist tendencies among re-
gional economic groupings as well as the uncertainty over
the Uruguay Round of GATT multilateral trade negotiations.
8. Looking beyond ASEAN to the other countries of South-
east Asia, it is indeed heartening to see the economic
transformation taking place in Vietnam, Laos and even
Cambodia. Malaysia is happy that, like Thailand, it is also
able to assist and countribute in some modest ways to the
economic reconstruction of these countries through trade and
private investment. We are doing so in the belief that a
prosperous and stable Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam closely
linked to ASEAN or even as members of ASEAN would contribute
to the peace, stability and prosperity of the entire South-
east Asian region. The same goes for Myanmar.
9. It is for this reason that we view with serious concern
the refusal of the Khmer Rouge to participate fully in the
peace process in Cambodia. Such a stand runs the risk of
plunging the country back into a civil war, affecting the
peace and stability of the entire region. We would like to
appeal to the leaders of Khmer Rouge to return to the peace
process and spare the country from turmoil and hardship.
While ASEAN has stood firmly behind the efforts of the
United Nations to enforce the Paris Agreement, we would like
in particular to pay tribute to Thailand for its decision to
fully enforce United Nations Security Council trade sanc-
tions against the Khmer Rouge even though some Thai business
interests might be affected.
10. Concerned as we are at the situation in Cambodia, it
would be difficult for us to ignore the death, deprivation,
hunger and blatant violation of human rights taking place in
other parts of the world. I am thinking specifically of
Somalia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Though we could feel some-
what relieved that the situation in Somalia has improved
following the despatch to that country of an international
force led by the United States, the situation in Bosnia-
Herzegovina continues to be grim. Serbian guns continue to
pound senselessly on innocent civilians in Sarajevo and
other Bosnian-controlled areas. Thousands of Bosnians,
Muslim and non-Muslims have been and are being raped, tor-
tured and massacred everyday. How many thousands more must
be killed and tortured before the U.N. decide to use force?
Peace negotiations have proven futile again and again. Only
force can bring about results. We cannot believe that the
forces of righteousness will only assert themselves when
their quarry will pose no lethal threat to their forces.
11. The tradition of regular exchanges of visits and con-
sultations between the Prime Ministers and other leaders of
Malaysia and Thailand has been well-established. This is a
tradition that we in Malaysia intend to maintain and
nurture, for this is the way it should be among friends and
neighbours. It is through such consultations that we have
managed to solve many delicate issues between our two coun-
tries. So I look forward to more meetings with you and to
your future visits to this country. I hope your visit to
Malaysia this time, despite its brevity, will be an enjoy-
able and profitable one and that the reception and hospital-
ity extended to you and members of your delegation will not
be found wanting.
12. Being the newly elected Head of Government of an impor-
tant and fast developing country, high expectations are
placed in you by the people of Thailand. You have an enor-
mous task ahead. May I take this occasion to wish you every
success in carrying out your responsibilities.
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