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.