Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	CASABLANCA, MOROCCO 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	13/12/94 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE SEVENTH ISLAMIC SUMMIT CONFERENCE 


 
    It is indeed a privilege and an honour  for  me  to  be
asked  to  speak  on  behalf  of  the  Asian  Group  on this
auspicious occasion commemorating the  25th  Anniversary  of
the OIC.
2.      We  are  pleased  that our Summit is taking place in
Morocco, the birth place of our Organisation.  We share with
you, Your Majesty, your pride in playing host for the  third
time  to  the  Islamic Summit coinciding as it does with the
twenty  fifth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  OIC.
Morocco  under  Your  Majesty's  wise  guidance has played a
leading   role   in   advancing   Islamic   solidarity   and
cooperation.    I  am  confident  that during your tenure as
Chairman of this Organisation, Your Majesty will continue to
play an  active  and  effective  role  in  articulating  the
interests of the Ummah.
3.    On this august occasion it is only appropriate that we
should  pay  tribute  to  the  founding   fathers   of   the
Organisation  whose  vision and foresight have given Islamic
nations and the Ummah an indispensable forum to pursue their
common aims and aspirations.   In this  regard  Malaysia  is
proud  to  have  been able to contribute to the Organisation
during its formative years.
4.   As we look back towards the past twenty-five years,  we
can  take reasonable pride in the fact that our Organisation
had  been  able  to  articulate  the  common  concerns   and
interests  of  member states and the Ummah and had succeeded
in  bringing  these  issues  to   the   forefront   of   the
international   agenda.      Our   Organisation  has  gained
recognition  in  pursuing  the  cause  of  the   Palestinian
liberation  and Al-Quds.   We have been continuously engaged
in trying to find peaceful solution  to  the  conflicts  and
disputes  which  have affected many of our members.  We have
also evolved organisationally, from one primarily  concerned
with  the  challenge  following  the  tragedy at the Al-Aqsa
Mosque to the promotion of economic, commercial and cultural
cooperation among member states.   The  enlargement  of  our
membership  from  the  initial  22  in  1969  to  52  today,
including significantly those  from  the  newly  independent
states   of   Central   Asia,   had   further  enriched  and
strengthened the Organisation.
5.    While we have moved many steps forward,  it  would  be
wrong  for  us  to ignore our failures.   We could have done
more if we are more united.  We could have a stronger  voice
in  world  affairs  if  we are more cohesive.  We would have
been more credible if  we  are  more  efficient,  and  truly
committed  to  our  cause.   Muslims would have been held in
higher esteem and respect if our economies  are  strong  and
our  governments  are  more  effective  and  stable.   It is
therefore appropriate on this auspicious occasion for us  to
reflect  on  our  weaknesses as well as our strengths and to
reaffirm our sincere resolve to seek ways to strengthen  our
Organisation  so  that  it can play the role as the credible
voice of Islamic solidarity and cooperation.
6.   On this occasion, it is appropriate for us to take note
of the rapid transformation that is taking  place  following
the  end of the cold war.  A new world order or more likely,
disorder will unavoidably impact upon us and our  interests.
This  Organisation  and  the  Ummah need to be appropriately
equipped to respond to the challenges and opportunities that
the 21st century will present.  We need to be  more  serious
and  committed  towards  enhancing  the effectiveness of the
Organisation when called upon to do so.   It  is  imperative
that  we  dicard pratices and values which are neither truly
Islamic nor relevant and instead promote greater  discipline
in  our  observance  of  those  Islamic virtues which in the
first century of the Hijrah helped to spread the  faith  far
and wide.
7.      I  am  happy to note that our meeting here has taken
recognition of these realities.  Our Ministers  have  agreed
to  the  establishment  of  an Eminent Persons Group to take
stock of our achievements and our weaknesses and to  provide
guidance for the future direction of this Organisation.  We,
the  Heads  of Government should endorse it.  I am confident
that with Your Majesty's wisdom, we will successfully evolve
a  strategy  for  the  rebirth  of  Islamic  unity  and  the
restoration  of  our  credibility  as  a  force  for  a more
equitable and just world.
8.   In the short space of time available I would like to go
straight to the matters which are of concern to  the  Muslim
Ummah and their countries.
9.      We  must  admit  that  the  Muslim  Ummah and Muslim
countries are still under threat and are very weak.   We  do
much  damage to ourselves by our lack of cooperation and our
frequently violent and debilitating struggles for  power  in
our  own countries.   As a result, whenever our brothers are
in need of help, not only are we unable to extend meaningful
help, but we are even unable  to  influence  those  agencies
whose  decisions  and  actions  will  affect the fate of our
brothers.
10.  We understand that in our society as in other societies
there are  groups  outside  the  power  structure  who  feel
strongly  and  are  frustrated about what takes place within
their societies.   But extremism and  violence  is  not  the
answer.    Extremism  begets  extremism  and violence begets
violence.  Even if they succeed in seizing  power  the  same
extremism  and  violence will assail them.  In the end Islam
and the Islamic Ummah will remain weak and  continue  to  be
pawns in other peoples' political games.
11.    We  cannot achieve everything that we wish to achieve
overnight.   The road  to  strength  and  greatness  can  be
accelerated  but  it  will still take time.   We must accept
small gains if we cannot achieve quantum leaps.  Most of  us
I believe are unhappy with the progress of the peace process
in   Palestine.     The  Israelis  have  been  dilatory  and
insincere.  But wrecking the peace process will not  get  us
anywhere.   Indeed if the sabotage succeeds it will force us
to begin all over again.  And how can we  believe  that  the
strategy  which  got  us  nowhere  after  decades  of costly
struggle will achieve success if we begin again?    I  would
appeal  to  all  our  Palestinian patriots of all shades and
political leanings to unite and strengthen their resolve  so
that the small gains that they have made can be consolidated
and  enhanced.  In time you will achieve your objective.  It
is absurd to think that by  fighting  each  other  you  will
advance  your  cause.    You  will, albeit inadvertently, be
helping the Israelis and the other enemies of Islam.
12.   In  Bosnia-Herzegovina  we  must  admit  that  we  are
ineffective,  if  not completely irrelevant.   The Europeans
have blatantly declared their intention to leave our  Muslim
brothers   in  Bosnia-  Herzegovina  at  the  mercy  of  the
genocidal Serbs.  If they do, we  will  be  equally  guilty.
For  we  have  left  our Muslim brothers at the mercy of the
Serbs long ago.
13.   There is quite a lot that we  can  do.    I  need  not
elaborate  here.  It need only the political will.  There is
no doubt as to what Islam wants us to do.  Whether we do  it
or not is really a measure of our commitment to our faith.
14.    I  am  sure  that we are all here because we take our
responsibilities to the Muslim  Ummah  and  to  humanity  in
general seriously.  Malaysia is ready to contribute whatever
little   we   have   to  resolve  the  problems  facing  us,
insya-Allah.
15.  We pray that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala  will  guide  us
and give us courage so that we will make the right decisions
and succeed in our endeavours.
16.  I thank you, Your Majesty.