Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	SRI PERDANA, KUALA LUMPUR 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	23/03/95 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE DINNER IN HONOUR OF H.E. RAFIC 
			HARIRI, PRIME MINISTER OF THE 
			REPUBLIC OF LEBANON 


 
    It is with great pleasure that my wife  and  I  welcome
Your  Excellency,  Madame Nazek Hariri and the distinguished
members of your delegation to Malaysia.  I am delighted that
Your Excellency is able to visit us as it  was  only  a  few
months  ago  that  we  had  the  opportunity  of  meeting in
Casablanca,  during  the   7th   Organisation   of   Islamic
Conference (OIC) Summit.
2.   I am confident that your presence here today will be an
important  beginning  in  our  mutual  desire to enhance the
links in our bilateral cooperation which have been disrupted
following  the  difficult  years  in   Lebanon's   political
development.
3.      Lebanon to our knowledge was very well developed and
among the wealthiest countries in the  Middle  East  in  the
days  before  the civil war.   It was the region's financial
centre and its playground, sophisticated and the epitome  of
sectarian  tolerance.    Its  Airline  was  the pride of the
region.
4.   Then some segments of the population  wanted  more  for
themselves  at  the  expense  of  the  others.    There  was
resistance to this  and  before  anyone  realised  what  was
happening  there  was  a  full scale civil war with everyone
pitted against everyone else.
5.   Beirut was destroyed.   Lebanon's  rich  economy was in
shambles.  People  were killed and  wounded.  There  was  no
security for anyone.  Fear stalked the streets of Beirut and
other parts of Lebanon.
6.   When the Taif Peace Agreement was finally  signed  five
years  ago Lebanon was not even a shadow of its former self.
We here were saddenend by the tragedy that had  fallen  your
country.    And I am sure the Lebanese people must have wept
tears of sorrow  over  the  fate  that  had  befallen  their
country.
7.   But the most tragic thing of all is that, for the heavy
price  that  was  paid  by  all the Lebanese people from all
segments of society,  the  Muslims  of  various  sects,  the
Christians  and  the Palestinian refugees, no one had gained
anything more than they had before the war.  Indeed everyone
lost almost everything.   The fighting,  the  killings,  the
hardship and the sacrifices were all in vain.
8.      We  hope, Your Excellency, that others in the Middle
East and the rest of the Muslim world  will  understand  the
futility  of  violent conflicts and terrorism as instruments
for  correcting  the  ills  of  society,  be  they   social,
political  or  religious.    Unfortunately,  the  lessons of
Lebanon have  taught  the  selfish,  the  fanatics  and  the
terrorists  nothing.   There are still conflicts everywhere.
Religious fanatics and extremists are still trying to  bring
down   Governments   by   violence,  while  Governments,  as
expected,  react  with  equal  violence.    People   suffer.
Economies  stagnate  or  regressed.    Foreign  powers  take
advantage.  Muslims everywhere are derided and made the butt
of cynical jokes.  It would seem that Islam is the  religion
of  chaos  and  backwardness,  of  intolerance  and needless
violence.
9.    And in the end, if there is  an  end,  the  sufferings
would  have  all  been  in  vain.   Violence, fanaticism and
terror bring gain to no one.   The massive losses  of  lives
and   property   would   all   have   been   wasted.
10.   Malaysia experienced a little  of  what  Lebanon  went
through.    We  had  to  fight Communist terrorists for many
long years.     In 1969 there were rioting and  violence  in
Kuala  Lumpur,    with  many  deaths  and  loss of property.
The   World  Press  reported  that  Malaysia  was  finished.
Democracy had again failed in this Muslim-dominated country.
Fortunately,   Malaysians  came  to  their  senses  quickly.
Since  then they have eschewed  confrontations and violence.
Together  they  built  up  the  country which you see today.
They now share much more  wealth,  peace  and stability than
anything  that  would  have  been  gained  if  any in  their
community had won through violent confrontations.
11.  Our experiences, yours and ours, have been good lessons
for  us.    Would  that  they serve as good lessons also for
other Muslim and non-Muslim countries which are  now  facing
civil  wars,  violence  and  terrorism  simply  because some
people think they  can  create  a  better  world  or  better
Governments  if  they  can bring down the Governments of the
day regardless of the law.
12.  We are very happy indeed that your country's trials and
tribulations are over.   The process of  reconstruction  has
now  begun.    I  am  sure  that  Lebanon, and in particular
Beirut, will regain the former glory.  We have heard of your
plans for Beirut.  As we have some experience in  urban  and
rural  development, we will be happy to exchange information
and to participate in your reconstruction programmes.
13.  As members of the OIC, Malaysia believes that the  time
has  come  for  us  to  correct  the  image of Islam and the
Muslims.  Because of a variety of unfortunate actions on the
part of extremists and deviationists who have been lumped as
Islamic fundamentalists, and the failures  of  some  Islamic
countries  to  achieve  stability,  peace  and progress, our
image at the moment is very much wanting.  This is  not  the
image  of  Islam  at all.   Lebanon and Malaysia are in very
good positions to correct this image by showing true Islamic
tolerance and justice for others not of our faith,  and  our
capacity  to  govern  and govern well a pluralistic society.
We hope that we can work together on the task  of  revealing
the true face of Islam and Muslims.
14.  Your visit to Malaysia will, I am sure, provide you and
your  delegation with an opportunity to see for yourself the
possibilities that  exist  for  us  to  cooperate  and  work
together  for  mutual  benefit.    At  present, the level of
economic interaction between  our  two  countries  is  still
minimal but the potentials are enormous.  During our meeting
this  morning,  we  had  together explored new ideas and new
thoughts, particularly in the  area  of  bilateral  economic
cooperation,  to  provide for a more substantive interaction
between Malaysia and Lebanon.    We  have  agreed  that  our
interactions  should  not be confined only to the government
but more so  among  our  peoples  and  the  private  sector.
Malaysia believes that the private sector can play a pivotal
role  in  helping to transform the character of our economic
and trade relations.
15.   Lebanon and  Malaysia  share  similar  views  on  many
international  issues,  in  particular  the  struggle of the
Palestinian people and the  attainment  of  a  comprehensive
settlement  of  the  Arab-Israeli conflict.   Many momentous
developments have taken place in the West Asian region since
the end of the  Cold  War.    In  Lebanon  itself,  we  have
witnessed  the  end  of  the  civil  war.   But the issue of
Israeli  intransigence  and  continued  occupation  of  Arab
lands,  including southern Lebanon, remains.  Some 20 months
ago, many believed that the signing of  the  Declaration  of
Principles  between  the  PLO  and  Israel  marked  a  fresh
beginning  in  the  efforts   to   resolve   the   conflict.
Regrettably,  the  international  community  has  yet to see
peace take root in the region, in particular in the occupied
Palestinian and Arab territories.   While  recognising  that
there have been progress in some areas, the situation on the
ground remains far from satisfactory.
16.    Malaysia  believes that progress of the peace process
very much depends on the commitment and willingness of  both
parties  in  implementing  all  the provisions that they had
agreed.  The continuing expansion of Israeli settlements  in
occupied  territories is certainly against the spirit of the
agreement.
17.  Malaysia, as I have mentioned, is opposed to all  forms
of  extremism,  violence  and  terrorism.    We believe that
violence will not solve  problems.    Violence  only  begets
violence.  We would urge Israel to demonstrate its sincerity
and  commitment  to  implement the remaining central issues,
including the return of Golan Heights  and  withdrawal  from
Southern  Lebanon  in  order to maintain the momentum of the
peace process.
18.  I trust Mr. Prime Minister, that you, Madame  and  your
delegation  will  have  a fruitful and enjoyable stay in our
country.  The programme we have laid out for you will give a
glimpse of what the Government and the  people  of  Malaysia
are  striving  to  achieve  in  our  quest  for progress and
prosperity.  I hope Your Excellency and your delegation will
bring with you fond memories of your short stay with us.