Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	21/08/95 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	DINNER HOSTED BY HE VICE PRESIDENT 
			OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 



             May   I  first   of   all  thank  you, Mr. Vice
    President,  for your warm words of welcome to  my  wife
    and  I  and  members of my delegation.  We  are  indeed
    delighted  to  have  the  opportunity  to  visit   your
    beautiful country.  Some sixteen months ago, I was here
    for  a  very brief period, at a time when your  country
    was  in the midst of a great historic change.  As  with
    many  other  friends of South Africa, we are  gratified
    that  South  Africans have finally put an  end  to  the
    blight  of  apartheid and that this  great  country  is
    moving towards building a new united, non-racial  South
    Africa.

    2.     Malaysia  and  South  Africa  has  had  a   long
    association, through historical and cultural  ties  and
    in  recent decades, through our active support of  your
    liberation struggle. These links have served  to  bring
    us  closer  together following the establishment  of  a
    democratic South Africa through free and fair elections
    in April 1994.  As with other nations, we are elated at
    your   return   to  the  international  community   and
    readmission  to the various multilateral  organisations
    following  the demise of apartheid.  It is  our  belief
    that your country could contribute significantly to the
    cause  of  peace, economic development, and  stability,
    not   only  in  the  African  continent,  but  in   the
    international community as a whole.
    
    3.     We   note  with  satisfaction  that  since   the
    establishment  of  the government  of  national  unity,
    bilateral exchanges between our two countries have been
    on  the upward trend.  In fact, exchanges of visits  at
    all  levels  have now developed its own momentum.   The
    energy and momentum we have initiated at the government
    to  government levels is being matched by contacts  and
    cooperation between businessmen from our two countries.
    South  Africa  today has become one  of  the  favourite
    destinations for Malaysian investors and tourists.  The
    volume  of  trade  between our two countries  has  seen
    significant increase over a period of just  two  years,
    with   South  Africa  emerging  as  Malaysia's  largest
    trading  partner in the African continent.  To  further
    accelerate  these  economic  interactions  between  our
    private sectors, I have brought along with me Malaysian
    businessmen  who  are  keen to explore  investment  and
    other  business opportunities with their South  African
    counterparts.   It  is my hope that  their  discussions
    over the next few days would help to identify areas  of
    cooperation   that   would  further  enhance   existing
    economic relations between our two countries.
    
    4.    Perhaps  our  best  effort  yet  is  through  the
    proposed cooperation to provide affordable housing  for
    the  South African people.  Discussions between our two
    sides have resulted in a dual track approach, with  the
    national  government  undertaking a  joint  feasibility
    study  on the provision of affordable housing  for  the
    whole  country, and at the provincial level,  with  the
    provincial government of Gauteng, agreeing to undertake
    a  pilot  project  to  construct a  thousand  units  of
    affordable  housing  by  a  joint-venture  company   of
    Malaysian and South African partners.
    
    5.    As  we  move  towards more  intensified  exchange
    between  our two countries, I wish to assure  you  that
    Malaysian  participation in the South  African  economy
    will   take   full   cognizant  of  your   government's
    aspirations  for affirmative action programme  to  help
    accelerate   the  participation  of  the  disadvantaged
    communities  in the country's economic activities.   We
    are  aware  that  your government has embarked  upon  a
    noble  and  just course through the Reconstruction  and
    Development   Programme.   We  have   had   a   similar
    programme   in  Malaysia  which  has  been   relatively
    successful  and about which we are ready to  share  our
    experiences.
    
    6.    In our ventures overseas, we are motivated  by  a
    desire  to  achieve  a  win-win situation.   We  desire
    shared prosperity, to contribute to the development  of
    a  prosperous  new South Africa which  will,  in  turn,
    contribute  to  the continuing growth of the  Malaysian
    economy.
    
    7.   We are particularly impressed by your government's
    efforts  and the initial success in achieving  national
    reconciliation.   The magnitude of this  challenge  can
    only  be  appreciated by another country with a similar
    multiracial make-up.  Malaysia is one such country, for
    it  too  has a multiracial and multicultural population
    further  polarised by economic disparities.   Countries
    such  as  ours  are constantly challenged  to  maintain
    national  consensus-to  reconcile  the  many  divergent
    thrusts    of   our   multiracial   and   multicultural
    communities.   From our own experience we believe  that
    there  must be peace if there is to be stability.   And
    there  can  be  no economic growth and  development  if
    there is no peace and stability within the country.  In
    this context, South Africa is fortunate to have a corps
    of  dedicated  leaders, led by President  Mandela,  who
    recognise  what  peace  and stability  means  to  South
    Africa.  The role that President Mandela has played  in
    the  past  in bringing freedom and democracy  to  South
    Africa  and  his present efforts at consolidation  will
    ensure that South Africa remains non-racial, united and
    a peaceful country.
    
    8.     May  I  once  again  thank  you  for  your  kind
    hospitality and for receiving us with such  warmth  and
    friendship.  My wife and I look forward to visiting the
    many  interesting places that South Africa is  renowned
    for, and to meeting a cross section of your people.  We
    will certainly take back with us many pleasant memories
    of our visit here to South Africa.