Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : THE CROWN PRINCESS HOTEL,
KUALA LUMPUR
Tarikh/Date : 22/07/94
Tajuk/Title : THE 3RD ASEAN ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
I wish to thank the organisers, the Asean Institute,
for inviting my wife and I, to this Third Asean Achievement
Award tonight. To the winners, my heartiest congratulations
to you. Your success tonight is a recognition of your
contributions to your community specifically, and the region
generally. The initiative to honour outstanding individuals
from the various disciplines, including medicine,
architecture, Research and Development and education, is
indeed commendable.
2. I understand that the Asean Institute is one of the
largest regional private business organisations, dedicated
to boosting Asean trade in addition to enhancing the
cohesiveness of the Asean community.
3. We in Asean have enjoyed not only peace and stability
but have also witnessed an era of strong economic growth
throughout the region. Given these trends the next century
could well go down in history as the golden age of ASEAN.
However, for this to happen we must make concerted efforts
to address a number of problems confronting us in the
advancement of Asean as a strong and cohesive grouping.
4. While it is true that the economic performance of the
individual Asean countries has been commendable many
problems remain unresolved. Pockets of poverty are found in
many ASEAN countries and positive actions must be taken to
redress the imbalances between the haves and the many
have-nots. In addition, more attention should be given to
improving health care, and to raising the educational
standards of our peoples. Without good health and education
progress becomes difficult.
5. In fact the premium placed on good education could not
be over-emphasised. We must continue to invest in education
in a world where new knowledge grows by geometrical
progression. There is less need to go abroad now as our
local educational institutions are more credible and they
provide a wider range of courses to choose from. ASEAN
countries should open up their educational institutions to
each other.
6. ASEAN's success seems to draw some unwelcome attention.
Efforts are being made to slow down its development through
the imposition of foreign standards. ASEAN countries must
stand together if they are going to counter this unhealthy
move.
7. To build a cohesive ASEAN community, we need not focus
on political or military alliances. Trade and cultural ties
can be just as effective in fostering greater ASEAN
solidarity. We should therefore work towards becoming
economically and technologically a single community, i.e.
sharing our expertise, experiences and thoughts so that the
benefits could be shared between us.
8. The making of an ASEAN community is a matter which must
receive more attention. Towards this end a variety of
programmes, both social and educational, should be developed
to forge closer ties between our countries. This is
especially important among the youth of ASEAN, the people
who will carry on the tradition and give substance to the
ASEAN spirit. More exchange programmes between young people
should be encouraged as this will provide them with a better
insight into each other's way of life.
9. In this context, I am impressed by the Asean Business
Forum which was created specifically as a private sector
initiative and that for the past three years it has been
able to generate hundreds of millions of dollars as a result
of new joint-ventures between its members. This has
definitely boosted intra-ASEAN trade.
10. I am also pleased to note that there are more than 40
Malaysian companies which are members of this Forum. As the
private sector will always be the engine of growth it is
imperative that it continually initiates ideas, innovations
and approaches which can be commercially developed for the
mutual benefit of entrepreneurs and consumers in the Asean
region.
11. Governments can provide the necessary political,
security and infrastructure framework but at the end of the
day it is the businessmen who have to exploit the commercial
opportunities that abound in this region.
12. I find it refreshing to note that the Forum, despite
the strong emphasis on business activities, has included
outstanding pre-university students at each of its annual
banquets. These are but some of the strategies that must be
followed through to ensure the success of our programme to
train the young.
13. I find this exercise to honour individuals from the
various disciplines a noble undertaking. That there is a
group within ASEAN who are concerned with the young and who
believes that students who excel in their respective
discipline should be given regional and international
recognition is indeed commendable. To provide motivation
for the young to excel is one way to encourage
profesionalism.
14. Of all our resources, our greatest asset is said to be
our people. But if people are to be assets for nations they
must have skills, good values and a sense of responsibility.
No nation can do well if the people are ill-educated and
ill-trained and given to all kinds of disruptive activities.
The development of a culture that is compatible with growth
and development must be regarded as a priority for all ASEAN
countries.
15. Our Asian values have been our strength and we should
take all possible measures to ensure that these values are
deeply ingrained in our society for generations to come.
Without this strong sense of commitment to the community,
family and nation, our efforts to catch up with the
developed nation will end in failure.
16. We must relentlessly help to upgrade the well-being of
our family, our community and our country. Collectively it
will help to realise the ASEAN dream of a prosperous and
peaceful South East Asia.
Thank you.
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