Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : BANGKOK
Tarikh/Date : 14/12/95
Tajuk/Title : THE FIFTH MEETING OF THE ASEAN
HEADS OF GOVERNMENT
It was in Thailand that ASEAN was formed in 1967. The
century of ASEAN'S birth is now drawing to a close. It is
very symbolic therefore that as we start charting ASEAN'S
course in the new century, we meet again in this delightful
city of Bangkok, where it all began.
2. Let me say how happy I am to be here amongst friends.
I am especially delighted to note that all Southeast Asian
countries are represented in this gathering. This was
exactly the vision that the founders of ASEAN had when they
signed the Bangkok Declaration of 1967.
3. I wish to extend my warm welcome to the leaders of
Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar in our midst. Malaysia would
also welcome them to take steps to become full members of
ASEAN as soon as possible.
4. My congratulations and thanks to you, Mr. Chairman, and
to the Government and people of Thailand for the timely
hosting of this Fifth Meeting of the ASEAN Heads of
Government.
5. In the new century,the ASEAN countries hopefully
numbering ten by then, should rightfully claim and play its
role in the management of Asia Pacific regional affairs. We
have every reason to do so.
6. Even now, the combined total of the ASEAN population
is in excess of 411 million. The ASEAN share of global trade
is in excess of 498 billion dollars, comparing very
favourably with the respective shares of China, Japan and
Korea. The GDP of ASEAN member countries exceed 448 billion
dollars, again reflecting a very credible figure compared to
the other major Asian nations.
7. We do have the necessary clout as a group and if we
remain strongly united, we should be a credible force which
others would need to reckon with.
8. In the name of open regionalism, others outside the
region are attempting to dictate the pace and direction of
Asia Pacific affairs - be it in the ASEAN Regional Forum
(ARF), or in the APEC process, or even in the meeting which
Asians are planning to hold with the Europeans. ASEAN must
not permit this.
9. The Asia Pacific is ASEAN's immediate outer
environment. We must therefore insist on our appropriate
share in the management of its affairs.
10. First and foremost, ASEAN must take a common stand to
prevent outside powers from dividing the Asian countries of
the Pacific.
11. We on the Asian side of the Pacific are permanent
neighbours. Surely the neighbours themselves should have
more right than others to determine how they wish to relate
to each other in economic, security and political matters,
for now and for the future.
12. We should therefore be on guard against becoming a pawn
in global politics ostensibly in the interest of regional
security.
13. We should not be listening to outside advice about our
security needs. In any case, I believe it is counter
productive to discuss regional security based on a conscious
or subconscious attitude of wanting to contain or restrain
potential enemies. It would lead us into believing in the
need for counter-threats to meet the perceived threats.
That would be the surest way of turning the enemies we dream
up into real ones.
14. I am very confident that the Asian countries of the
Pacific, knowing the permanency of their neighbourly
existence, will find accommodation with each other if
external factors do not come into play.
15. The ARF should genuinely be a forum which enables the
Asian countries of the Pacific to establish confidence and
cooperation between themselves in political and security
matters. Other interested parties can contribute
constructively to the process but they must not be allowed
to use it to further their own schemes at the expense of the
Asian participants.
16. ASEAN created the ASEAN Regional Forum. ASEAN must
stay the course to ensure that the ARF process is not
steered into directions which ASEAN does not wish to pursue.
17. Similarly, in economic relations and on issues of
international trade, ASEAN should not allow others from
outside the region to set the pace for cooperation in the
context of APEC. This is not just for reasons of sovereign
right. We even have the economic rationale.
18. For example, a recent International Monetary Fund
report concludes that the developing countries of Asia will
remain the most important engine of growth through 1996.
And, recent figures produced by the Organisation of Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) show ASEAN countries
significantly increasing their share of OECD's imports of
goods.
19. It is an established fact that some of the most dynamic
economies in the world today are those in the ASEAN region.
To sustain this dynamism, ASEAN countries would need to
create continuing opportunities for trade and investment.
Where else can we best do this than in our own ASEAN region?
That is why we should not deviate from our commitment to put
AFTA in place by the agreed target dates.
20. His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, at the
Foreign Ministers Meeting in July this year, even suggested
that the target date be brought forward to the year 2000.
21. That is also why ASEAN countries should not miss the
opportunity to be in the lead to upgrade economic relations
with the three other countries in Southeast Asia.
Intensification of trade and investment relations with these
immediate neighbours of ours cannot but bring mutual benefit
for all in our sub-region.
22. The political and economic potentials which ASEAN would
have, as an enlarged grouping, to determine ASEAN's own
destiny, and to influence the pace and direction of Asia
Pacific affairs, is really quite enormous. That is why the
ASEAN Ten should become a reality quickly, not slowly.
23. I do believe that, with sufficient determination and
convergence of views, we can exert influence to protect and
promote our own interests. The decisions taken at the
recent APEC Leaders Meeting in Osaka was a good example
where Asian countries of the Pacific spoke unitedly, and
succeeded in establishing the desired pace for trade and
investment liberalisations in our own region.
24. That is the kind of function, in fact the only kind of
function, envisaged for the EAEC. I still believe that, with
a little bit of persistence on the part of ASEAN, the EAEC
can yet be formalised as a caucus within APEC and as a forum
for discussion of common East Asian problems.
25. I hope the leaders of the Asian countries of their
Pacific will be able to maintain the same unity of
purpose as they did in Osaka when we meet the European Union
(EU) leaders here in Bangkok in March next year. If we
speak with one voice, we should be able to utilise the
occasion to usher in a truly new era of equitable
relationships between the European and the Asian
participants.
26. There is much to be gained from the development of
constructive relationships with the European group. At the
first Asia Europe Economic Meeting (ASEM), we should not let
that opportunity pass. At the same time, we should also not
let them miss the point that constructive relationships
develop through consultation and consensus, not through any
direction or prescription on their part.
27. We have heard enough from the Europeans about democracy
and human rights. We have been threatened with trade
sanctions unless we abide by the social clauses to be
established according to their standards. They have
lectured to us about how to manage our environment and
conserve our forests. I think the time has come for us to
put across, candidly and honestly, our own viewpoints on
these matters.
28. We should say in no uncertain terms that international
peace, security and prosperity cannot be established without
justice and equity.
29. There cannot be genuine peace if might alone is used to
establish what is considered right, with double standards
dominating the order of the day. We have repeatedly
witnessed examples of its application, for instance in
Bosnia-Herzegovina.
30. Another case in point is the continuation of weapons
testing by certain nuclear powers. How can the world ever
be rid of nuclear weapons if some cannot even agree to stop
testing or perfecting these weapons? ASEAN should put its
collective weight to campaign for the total and complete
elimination of all nuclear and other weapons of mass
destruction. As a start, we should quickly agree to
establish the Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in Southeast Asia in
accordance with the proposed Treaty.
31. ASEAN on its own might not be able to do much to change
the world. But with other like-minded nations and groups of
nations, we can make a difference and achieve a lot.
32. For the Asia Pacific environment, however,I feel ASEAN
has, not only the duty but also the right and the necessary
clout to shape a regional order which we can truly call our
own. It may require us to draw upon all of ASEAN's
ingenuity to do it. But do it we must.
33. Mr. Chairman, I might have spoken with some passion
about these issues. If I did so it is because of my own and
my country's commitment to the ASEAN cause, and if I may
repeat, my belief in the potentials of ASEAN.
34. Finally, Mr. Chairman, I thank you, the Government and
the people of Thailand for the warm welcome and generous
hospitality extended to me, my wife and to the members of my
delegation. I am certain that, under your able stewardship,
this Fifth ASEAN Summit will achieve great success and
attain its own pride of place in the annals of ASEAN.
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