Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : CAMBODIA
Tarikh/Date : 14/04/94
Tajuk/Title : THE STATE BANQUET HOSTED BY H.R.H.
SAMDECH KROM PREAH NORODOM
RANARIDDH FIRST PRIME MINISTER, AND
H.E. SAMDECH HUN SEN, SECOND PRIME
MINISTER OF THE ROYAL GOVERNMENT
OF CAMBODIA
Your Royal Highness Prince Ranariddh, First Prime Minister;
Your Excellency Samdech Hun Sen, Second Prime Minister;
Excellencies;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
My wife and I are greatly honoured to have been invited
to visit the Kingdom of Cambodia. We are touched by the
warmth and friendliness extended to us since our arrival.
We are especially honoured that your Government has agreed
to receive us and our delegation during the Cambodian New
Year. May I, on behalf of the Government and people of
Malaysia, extend our warm wishes for a Happy and Prosperous
New Year to all Cambodians.
2. My wife and I are also moved by the honour granted us
by His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk Varman, King of Cambodia,
and Her Majesty Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, for
receiving us in audience and for hosting the gracious
luncheon today. His Majesty stands in high regard and
esteem among Malaysians. To this day Malaysians remember
with gratitude the role played by His Majesty in persuading
the then Malaysian Prime Minister and the President of the
Philippines to come to Cambodia for a summit meeting in 1964
to reconcile differences between the two countries.
3. While relations between Cambodia and Malaysia have
always been cordial, this visit is especially historic as it
takes place 30 years after the first Prime Minister of
Malaysia came to Cambodia. The intervening years
unfortunately did not provide Malaysian leaders with the
opportunity to visit Cambodia. Nevertheless Cambodia has
always remained close to our hearts. We have always been
concerned with the situation in Cambodia and the plight of
Cambodians during those years when your country was
undergoing the traumas of war. But we are happy with the
positive results of the efforts put in by friends and
neighbours and, most importantly, the commitment of
Cambodians themselves to bring about lasting peace in
Cambodia.
4. Malaysia is pleased at having participated in the
Cambodian peace process and in the UNTAC operations. We
consider our participation as a responsibility, being a
close neighbour and ally of Cambodia. To us, peace in
Cambodia is vital for the stability and prosperity of all of
Southeast Asia. As the leader of a coalition government, I
salute the wisdom of Cambodian leaders in selecting this
common course in the building of a peaceful and united
Cambodia.
Your Royal Highness And Your Excellency,
5. A new dawn has broken over Southeast Asia. The return
of peace in Cambodia and other changes in the region have
now presented us with an unprecedented opportunity for
enhancing cooperation between and among the countries of
Southeast Asia. Never before have we got the opportunity
for all the Southeast Asian countries to work together
towards wider regional cooperation in the true spirit of
goodwill and harmony. The time has now come to forge a more
united Southeast Asia.
6. A more united Southeast Asia will make us all stronger
in meeting future challenges. It is my hope that ASEAN
would ultimately comprise all the 10 countries in Southeast
Asia. Together we can work with the other countries in East
Asia to develop a more resilient and progressive crescent of
prosperity in this region. Laos and Vietnam have taken
steps to prepare for their eventual entry into ASEAN. Both
have now become observers of ASEAN. I hope your Government
will consider Cambodia's participation in ASEAN as Laos and
Vietnam have done, so as to eventually blend into the ASEAN
tapestry of regional cooperation.
7. Now that a new era in the Cambodia-Malaysia relations
has begun, Malaysia will take every measure to reinforce
existing interaction between the peoples of Cambodia and
those of Malaysia, begun centuries ago.
Your Royal Highness and Your Excellency,
8. I am confident that the bond of friendship and
cooperation between Cambodia and Malaysia will be further
enhanced following today's meeting. Our discussion this
afternoon has been most fruitful. Malaysia admires the
commitment of your Government towards promoting the
rehabilitation and reconstruction of Cambodia and your will
and determination to nurture national reconciliation to
enhance peace and stability in the Kingdom. We recognise
that you have an enormous task ahead. Nevertheless, we
fully support your efforts. I would like to emphasise that
the Malaysian Government will continue to cooperate with
Cambodia in your reconstruction and development efforts.
The presence of Malaysian corporate leaders and
entrepreneurs in my delegation, attests to their interest to
help explore mutually beneficial projects with Cambodia.
They are here to learn how best to put their expertise and
funds in joint efforts to develop your country.
9. In order to strengthen our cooperation, it is fitting
that both countries set up appropriate frameworks to
facilitate the signing of bilateral agreements between us.
Towards this end, it is my great pleasure to invite both
Your Royal Highness and Your Excellency to make an official
visit to Malaysia which will certainly reinforce efforts at
cooperation.
10. I have come to Phnom Penh with the hope that there can
be put in place a new framework for sustained cooperation
between Cambodia and Malaysia and between us and the rest of
Southeast Asia. We should aim towards regional partnership.
It is also with this objective that I shall proceed from
your beautiful Kingdom to the Lao People's Democratic
Republic, another one of Malaysia's close friend and
neighbour.
11. Once again, on behalf of my delegation, I would like to
express our gratitude and appreciation for the warm
reception and hospitality accorded to us by both Your Royal
Highness and Your Excellency and the Government and people
of Cambodia.
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