Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	15/03/95 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE LAUNCHING OF THE MALAYSIA 
			COMMONWEALTH POLICY STUDIES CENTRE 


 
    I wish to thank you for your very warm words of welcome
and the kind invitation to launch the Malaysia  Commonwealth
Policy  Studies  Centre at Cambridge today.  It is indeed an
honour  to be given the opportunity to chair  the  Board  of
Trustees of the Centre.  May I also take this opportunity to
express  my  appreciation  to the distinguished Commonwealth
personalities who have agreed to serve  on  the  Board.    I
certainly  look  forward to working closely with you to make
the  Centre  a  distinctive  centre  of  research  for   the
Commonwealth.
2.      The  Commonwealth  represents  a free association of
sovereign states whose peoples constitute about one  quarter
of the world's population.   Diverse as they may be in their
racial  origins,  cultures,  languages  and faiths, they are
nevertheless linked together by shared traditions and    the
belief   that   their  interests  are  best  served  through
cooperation  and  partnership.     Over   the   years,   the
Commonwealth  has  increasingly relied upon these principles
and beliefs, in the search for a better world.  As a  result
of  the  Commonwealth's  efforts  in  promoting  fundamental
values that all its members  share,  we  have  become  quite
credible  examples  of   political maturity and democracy in
many instances.
3.   The members of the Commonwealth have also been able  to
forge   ahead   in      various   fields  of  socio-economic
development.  Although much has been done in these areas  we
cannot but feel that even more needs to be done to alleviate
the  many  socio-economic  problems  which  confront  member
states.
4.    In the years ahead, the  Commonwealth  would  need  to
focus  more  sharply  on those issues of real concern to its
members.  This would ensure that the Commonwealth  continues
to  remain  responsive  and  relevant  to  the  needs of its
members.
5.   The Commonwealth needs to look ahead.  In doing so,  it
could   draw  upon  the  various  experiences  that  it  has
undergone since its inception.   The  establishment  of  the
Malaysia  Commonwealth  Studies  Centre  today  is, I think,
timely.
6.     I am confident  that  this  Centre  will  serve  with
distinction  as a centre for research to assist Commonwealth
countries  in  achieving  some  of  the  objectives  of  the
Commonwealth.   The Centre hopefully will play its role as a
think-tank to identify and offer solutions to  some  of  the
problems  faced  by  member  states.   Issues such as modern
administration, political  systems,  economic  planning  and
development,  food,  shelter,  health  and  education can be
addressed by this Centre.  It will no doubt  help  to  light
the  way  and  reduce the pitfalls which seem to plague many
Governments in their  effort  to  develop  especially  those
which achieved independence after the last war.
7.      The  location  of  the  Malaysia Commonwealth Policy
Studies Centre here in the University  of  Cambridge  should
enable   it  to  benefit  from  the  renowned  learning  and
expertise of this great university.   It will thus  be  well
placed  to  provide  ideas,  and  the necessary stimulus and
direction  for  new  thinking   within   the   Commonwealth.
Malaysia  is  honoured  to be associated with the Centre and
would continue to contribute to the development and  success
of the Centre.
8.      I  am  optimistic  that  this  Centre  would play an
important  role  in  assisting  Commonwealth  countries   to
respond to the challenges of the future.
9.      I  hereby  have  great  pleasure  in  launching  the
Malaysia Commonwealth Policy Studies Centre.