Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : SRI PERDANA, KUALA LUMPUR
Tarikh/Date : 15/01/96
Tajuk/Title : THE DINNER IN HONOUR OF THE
HONOURABLE THE PRIME MINISTER OF
AUSTRALIA, MR. PAUL KEATING
My wife and I are delighted to extend a warm welcome to
you and Mrs. Keating as well as members of your delegation
to Malaysia. Your visit represents an important milestone
in the relations between Malaysia and Australia and
reemphasises the common desire of both countries, despite
their occasional differences, to maintain close and
cooperative relations.
2. We have had useful meetings in Auckland and Osaka
recently and I look forward to having more discussions with
you and members of your delegation tomorrow.
3. Malaysia is a young country undergoing tremendous
changes. Development is being pursued in all areas. The
Malaysian Government is dedicated to improving the well-
being of the people. Although much has been achieved since
Independence, we still have some way to go to reach the
level attained by Australia. We are however confident that
the objective of becoming a fully developed country can be
achieved within the target date.
4. A country at a stage of rapid development must
necessarily encounter many challenges. This is more so for
multiracial Malaysia. Major adjustments including reforms,
social engineering and restructuring have been made in the
interest of socio-economic justice. Discipline has to be
inculcated. Law and order have to be preserved. Sacrifices
become necessary. It is only within such a context that
Malaysia's development can be pursued. Such is also the
backdrop to our position on democracy, human rights and
environment. In this we count upon our friends for
understanding and support as partners in progress.
5. We would like to think of Australia as one such friend.
Our relationship goes back a long way and has stood the test
of time. To be sure hiccups have occurred but these have
not affected the substantive aspects of our relations. It
is a credit to both countries that good sense has prevailed
each time. It is perhaps also a measure of the maturity of
our relations.
6. At the bilateral level, I am pleased to see progress
made in the field of trade. Two-way trade has increased to
over RM 5.1 billion for the first eight months of 1995
compared to RM 4.1 billion for the corresponding period in
1994. Malaysia today is Australia's third largest ASEAN
trading partner and the eleventh largest export market. I
see tremendous potentials in manufactured products
accounting for a major portion of our two-way trade as we
take advantage of the benefits of industrial development.
Malaysia too looks forward to the satisfactory conclusion of
a new Trade Agreement with Australia to provide greater
impetus to the growth of trade between our two countries.
7. Two-way investment has also seen encouraging progress.
Australia is today the fourth largest investor in Malaysia
with more than 200 Australian companies with equity interest
in Malaysia. Malaysian investment in Australia on the other
hand has also grown by 34 percent in 1994 to progressively
cover new areas. I hope that the potentials for increased
joint ventures could be further exploited by the private
sector of both sides through closer collaboration between
MIDA and the Malaysia-Australia Business Council together
with promotional efforts undertaken within the framework of
the ASEAN-Australia Economic cooperation Programme.
8. The presence of more than 10,000 Malaysian students in
Australia complement those who have already benefitted from
Australia's educational facilities, providing one of the
most valuable and enduring bonds between our two countries.
Malaysia will continue to send students to Australia whilst
at the same time welcoming Australians to similarly pursue
their studies in Malaysia.
9. There is certainly much to be proud of in respect of
our relations. Nevertheless they need to be further
developed. We need to avoid or at least to limit the type
of hiccups which off and on bedevil our relations. In this
regard, I fully agree with your views, Prime Minister,
expressed recently, on the need for both sides to remove
whatever preconceptions which can impede a clear view of
each other.
10. Malaysia is prepared to respond positively to such
views. It is timely that misconceptions be removed and
replaced with a more positive attitude in the conduct of our
relations. It is also timely that negative actions by those
bent on sowing discord and misunderstanding be restrained so
as to prevent similarly negative reactions from either side.
The principle of mutual respect should be adhered to by all
parties. I can assure you, Prime Minister, that Malaysia
would play its part in developing a climate of cooperation
beneficial to both sides. We are sure that Australia will
do the same.
11. In moving ahead together, I am glad to note that the
necessary framework for bilateral cooperation has been put
in place. Six major agreements have been successfully
concluded to cover various areas of cooperation. The
establishment of the Malaysia-Australia Foundation in 1994
followed by your recent launching of the Australia-Malaysia
Society in Canberra should augur well for closer people-to-
people contacts whilst providing new opportunities for
greater trade and economic cooperation between our two
countries.
12. In conclusion, let me once again extend a warm welcome
to you and members of your delegation to Malaysia. Your
visit, although brief, clearly demonstrates Australia's firm
commitment to strengthen its relations with Malaysia. I
hope that you will have a pleasant and memorable stay in
Kuala Lumpur and that you will be able to find time to visit
us again.
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