Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : WASHINGTON D.C.
Tarikh/Date : 21/05/96
Tajuk/Title : THE 29TH INTERNATIONAL GENERAL
MEETING OF THE PACIFIC BASIN
ECONOMIC COUNCIL
Let me begin by saying what a great honour it
is for me to speak at this PBEC conference.
2. I believe in community-building. And I believe
one of the most important tasks in the remaining
years of this millennium is to lay strong
foundations for a Pacific community of friendship,
goodwill and prosperity -- bringing closer together
the peoples of the northern Pacific, the southern
Pacific, the eastern Pacific and the western
Pacific. We must eschew exclusiveness and we must
believe that the best way to convert non-believers
is to keep in contact with them and to demonstrate
the good resulting from your beliefs. The worst
thing you can do is to isolate and to cause misery
in order to gain submission to your beliefs and your
ways.
3. Ideologies which are forced on people
invariably ended in rebellion and rejection. It is
as true of economic systems as it is true of
political systems. The present world-wide love
affair with the free market economy is not the
result of arm-twisting. It is the result of
observing the obvious results of the free market
system. It is noteworthy that perestroika and
glasnost were initiated not by the masses in the
Soviet Union but by the top leaders, the only people
who could go abroad to the so-called capitalist
countries and see for themselves how much better off
were the workers there, compared to the poverty of
the workers in the Communist countries. What
Gorbachev and Edourd Shevenardze saw must have
convinced them that Communism held no promise for
their country. And so Gorbachev started the process
of embracing the free market and also democracy.
4. The Cold War was not won by Western diplomats
or generals. It was won by the workers of the West
with their Chevy and Plymouth parked outside western
factories. It was won by well-stocked supermarkets
and shopping malls.
5. I have not been asked to give my views on the
Cold War. I was asked to speak on Asian Values.
But what I have said so far have some bearing on the
subject. Engage, don't contain.
6. There is a sincere belief amongst many in the
West that their values and beliefs are universal --
universally valued and believed in by all civilised
and civil men and women everywhere. There is the
sincere belief amongst many in the West that there
are only universal values -- and that these values
are, as you already guessed -- the values which they
hold. There is also the sincere belief amongst many
in the West that the advocates and champions of
Asian values or other values are merely justifying
oppression, dictatorship and uncivilised behaviour.
Those who speak of Asian values are just looking for
or merely making excuses.
7. I happen to believe that there is a large
common ground of values which we all share, arising
out of the fact that we are human, that we are
parents, and that we being gregarious must live in
society, and so on.
8. But I also happen to believe that there are
natural differences in values. Those who say there
are none are like the colour blind who can only see
shades of grey, who cannot see all the colours of
the rainbow and therefore say they do not exist.
9. Is anyone suggesting that there are no
differences at all between the American way of life
and values and some of the ways and values of the
"old world", Europe? Indeed, did multitudes not
flee to the "new world" in order to escape from the
values and the ways of the old? I am sure there are
many American values and ways of today which the
French would find somewhat different, if not quaint
or even repulsive. Even America's close cousin, the
British, find some American values a little off
putting. Indeed, I am sure there are many in Europe
who would see themselves as the custodians of
"universal" Western values, who would see many
American values as being at variance with or on the
fringes of Western values. America is in so many
ways a result of experiences and circumstances
almost unique in the community of nations, even in
the Western world.
10. Those who believe there are no differences at
all in value systems and value beliefs might ask
whether even within a single country there are no
great value differences. Surely there is big city
culture and Peyton Place culture. And big cities
across continents share much in terms of values and
ways. The starving in all societies share much,
just as the very wealthy and the nouveau riche share
much. America itself has been said to be a nation
of many nations -- of many ethnic, cultural and
geographical nations.
11. If all these things are true, how can it be
argued that there are only universal values? If
anything, it might well be argued -- as I have had
the temerity to argue -- that just as European
values are more universal than American values,
Asian values are in fact more universal than both.
Indeed on the basis of numbers and great
similarities with others in most of Africa and much
of Latin America, if anyone can claim to be the
holders of universal values, Asia with its billions
can. At the same time I pray the time will never
come when anyone in Asia will stand up to claim that
there are only universal values, i.e. the values of
Asia. And that anyone who speaks of American values
or European values or Western values are merely
justifying the unholy things that are being
perpetrated in America, Europe and the West.
12. If this were to happen, it could only be out of
the arrogance of power. I believe that Asia will
never have such power. I hope we will never have
such arrogance.
13. However offensive or outrageous is the idea
that others elsewhere can deeply believe in
different things and that these beliefs, values and
ways of doing things may possibly be better, more
productive and even more civilised than one's own,
one should at least be prepared to accept this
possibility.
14. Here, ladies and gentlemen, is part of the
problem. For centuries, so many of us in Asia
believed that our Asian values and ways were
second-rate. If today, Asians have discovered that
Asian ways and values are not inferior simply
because they are Asian, and often are superior
despite the fact that they are Asians, perhaps we
may be forgiven. Especially when they read, daily
and frequently about the terrible things that
Westerners say are happening in the West and the
wondrous things that so many Westerners say are
happening in the East. If many in the West are
either wondrously taken or sedately impressed by
many of the values and ways of Asia, is it so
strange that many Asians are similarly, wondrously
or sedately struck by many of the values and ways of
Asia?
15. Not only are we now convinced of the rightness
of many of our Asian ways, but we are also convinced
that these Asian ways are currently under attack.
And much of the debate on Asian values is clearly
defensive in nature. It is therefore not surprising
that the intensity of the Asian values debate is
largely determined by fear that Asian success might
lead to Asian self-assertion.
16. Many of us in Asia cannot but be aware of
results. It is hard to quarrel with results. We
cannot avoid noticing the connection between our
approach, our values with our success in many
fields. Why then must we change ourselves to suit
the West and their values. Why are so many in the
West insisting that we become just like them. This
the strong among us will not do. The weak
unfortunately have little choice.
17. The ancient Greek historian, Thucydides, at the
end of his history of the Peloponnesian wars, came
to the conclusion that in the affairs of nations the
strong will demand what they will and the weak must
yield what they must. Much of Asia will no longer
yield. For much of Asia is now no longer weak -- in
material or mental terms. Much of Asia will resist
-- in silence. Some in Asia will talk back.
18. We will do so not only because we have thrown
off the shackles of mental servitude. In truth, we
must fight for we are fighting for our winning ways,
which are under internal as well as external attack
and erosion. We know we can only win the future by
mustering and fortifying the many strengths of the
past.
19. I have attempted an explanation of why it is
that Asian values are often the subject of such
vigorous debate. Let me now say a few things about
Asian values per se. First, what are some of these
values?
20. Asia is, of course, a huge continent, like
America is a huge country. For every generalisation
about Asia or America that is made, exceptions can
be found. And yet, there is a body of common values
and beliefs that most of us in Asia hold on to in
order to guide our way in the world that can be
called "Asian" just as there is a body of common
values and ways that can be called "American". I
would like to emphasise here that the difference
between people, is not their physiognomy, ethnicity
or skin colour. What distinguishes them is their
culture, that is the system of values which they
believe in.
21. With regard to East Asia, David Hitchcock, the
former director of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of
the United States Information Agency, had actually
conducted the first ever quantitative survey
comparing East Asian and American values.
22. In 1994, he asked Americans and East Asians
(Japanese, Thais, Chinese, Koreans, Malaysians,
Singaporeans, Indonesians and Filipinos) to choose
six `societal values' and five `personal values'
which they regarded as core and critical. The
results were presented in a publication called Asian
Values and the United States: How Much Conflict?
23. The survey found that the six societal values
most valued by the East Asians were: first, having
an orderly society; second, societal harmony; third,
ensuring the accountability of public officials;
fourth, being open to new ideas; fifth, freedom of
expression; and sixth, respect for authority.
24. On the other hand, the six most important for
the Americans polled were: first, freedom of
expression; second, third, fourth and fifth,
personal freedom, the rights of the individual, open
debate, thinking for oneself (all of which did not
figure among the most critical concerns of the East
Asians); and sixth, the accountability of public
officials. Interestingly slightly more East Asians
emphasised the importance of `new ideas' and public
accountability than did Americans.
25. Despite Hitchcock's interest in discovering
commonalities between East Asians and Americans, he
found fundamental differences not just with societal
values but also with regard to personal values.
26. The five most important personal values
stressed by the Americans polled were: first, self
reliance; second, personal achievement; third, hard
work; fourth, achieving success in life; and fifth,
helping others.
27. The five most important personal values
stressed by the East Asians, on the other hand,
were: first, hard work; second, respect for
learning and education; third, honesty; fourth, self
reliance and fifth, self discipline.
28. Whereas the sixth most important core value --
`fulfilling obligations to others' -- was stressed
by 39 percent of the East Asians, only 19 percent of
the Americans polled emphasised this.
29. On the other hand whereas 59 percent of the
Americans stressed `achieving success in life', half
as many East Asians did so. Whereas 59 percent of
the Americans stressed `personal achievement', only
33 percent of the East Asians did so.
30. On the other hand, whereas 69 percent of the
East Asians emphasised respect for learning, only 15
percent of the Americans did so. Whereas 48 percent
of the East Asians stressed self discipline, only 22
percent of the Americans did so.
31. I do not know how accurately this American
study reflects reality. But Hitchcock provides
figures that support the intuitive assumptions of
most East Asians and those who really know East Asia
well.
32. Second, I do know that so many Asian values
which so many Asians declaim with such reverence are
often more honoured in their breach than in their
practice.
33. Third, I do know that many of these `Asian
values' were once also `Western values'. Many of
them are what would be termed `Victorian values'.
Many of today's Asian values were Western values
which much of the West have successfully thrown off
or `lost'.
34. Fourth, some are obviously a function of our
stage of development and will be challenged and
discarded -- to our gain or to our loss -- as we
move forward.
35. I hope that my exposition on Asian values so
far has not by any stretch of the imagination
justified dictatorship, authoritarianism,
anti-democratic practices, the suppression of human
rights, the denial of democracy. I hope that my
arguments also do not in any way justify torture,
the exploitation of child labour, the suppression of
women and the wanton destruction of the environment.
36. Having offended the universalists, the most
militant of whom are congregated in the West, let me
now be permitted to offend the authoritarians, so
many of whom are said to congregate in `the East'.
37. The first thing that might usefully be said is
that atrocity anywhere cannot be tolerated. It
should be punished. No one should be allowed to
hide behind the cloak of cultural relativism.
Atrocities as you must know are not found only in
Asia. Some of the worst examples are found in the
West.
38. Secondly, many Asian values should obviously be
destroyed. God only knows how hard we have
struggled against so many of them. In many parts of
Asia, there is excessive materialism and in many
parts, there is excessive anti-materialism; there is
of course extremist spiritualism, usually manifested
in extremely unspiritual ways. And there is the
opposite.
39. In some societies, there is the ethics of
fatalism. In others, the dominance of contentment,
smugness, even arrogance. In many Asian countries,
there is excessive deference to authority resulting
in social and psychological authoritarianism.
40. The record of Asia with regard to fundamental
economic, social and cultural rights has too often
been as atrocious as the record on fundamental civil
and political rights.
41. Some of these are inequality, the repression of
women and the weak; the economic, political,
intellectual and social disempowerment of millions;
a deep psychological sense of inferiority; the lack
of self confidence and sense of self worth.
42. Uncaring societies abound in Asia that have not
an iota of love and regard for God's living
creatures, for the infirm, the disadvantaged, the
handicapped, the physical environment which man
holds only in trust. Much of this is a function of
ignorance and poverty, of being unable to afford,
though some may be due to just greed and an uncaring
attitude.
43. Then there are in Asia undiluted adherence to
tradition, superstition and magic. Deep and often
widespread corruption and tolerance of corruption -
- equally deep and widespread. The list is too long
even to enumerate.
44. A third point is equally obvious. If `Asian'
does not necessarily mean `good', `Western' does not
necessarily mean `bad'. Asia's process of learning
from the best in the West is far from complete.
There are many Western values, found in the best
Western societies, which we should adopt or
internalise more deeply.
45. I remember in my country's own history, that we
had to do a lot of persuading before the British,
the erstwhile advocates of democracy, granted us the
right to have elections and to vote. It was we,
Malaysians, who were denied democracy and many of
our human rights. In the end they relented and
retreated without scorching the earth. But
democracy came very much later in Hong Kong even as
they advocated democracy in all their former
colonies. The excuse - Hong Kong was doing well
without democracy. Now that Hong Kong is to revert
to China authoritarian colonial rule has become
abominable.
46. When Malaya became independent in 1957, our per
capita income was lower than that of Haiti. Haiti
did not take the path of democracy. We did. Haiti
today is the poorest country in all of the Americas.
We now have a standard of living higher than any
major economy in the Americas, save only for the
United States and Canada. We could not have
achieved what we have achieved without democracy.
We could not have done it without the free market
system. But others who think that democracy and the
free market means prosperity should think again.
Democracy and the free market are more likely to
result in prosperity but they do not guarantee
prosperity. Other things are needed.
47. Still my fourth point is that we in Asia must
fight for and be the champion of democracy, the
market system and respect for human rights for all.
We must because our value system says that this is
the moral course. And it can be the most productive
course for our future.
48. Having said this, let me make a fifth point
with equal passion. Not all forms of democracy are
productive. There is good and productive democracy
as well as bad and destructive democracy.
Democratic freedom must go hand in hand with
democratic responsibility. There are good and
productive market systems and bad market systems as
Orange County knows well. There are good and
productive means for achieving advancement in the
dignity and circumstance of our people as well as
well-meaning but romantic, silly and unproductive
nonsense.
49. Each society must be allowed to find its own
best forms and processes. Let Americans not forget
that between July 4, 1776 and the Civil Rights Act
of 1964 there were almost two centuries of political
development and one civil war. I wonder how many of
the Western politicians who champion the interests
of other peoples are not in fact bent only on
championing their own.
50. Ideas and actions are great not because they
are romantic or full of bravado but because they are
productive of human welfare, productive not only
immediately but in the long run. There is a need to
be fair and not to demonise those in less than ideal
circumstances. Unfortunately, many who pass
judgement do
not have the time to even master the basics, still
less the complications.
51. I have said enough on Asian values and the
Asian values debate to offend both sides of the
great divide. Let me now touch on mutual respect
enrichment.
52. Before I insist that `the West' must have more
respect for other values and other cultures, let me
concede that we outside `the West' also need a
balanced perspective of `the West'. If it was
ridiculous for so many of our elites to once believe
that everything that was good was in the West and
everything that was in the West was good, it is
equally ridiculous to now believe that everything
that is bad is in the West and everything that is in
the West is bad.
53. Mutual regard is simply that: mutual regard.
There is much in the West that commands respect. At
the same time, it is right and it is time that Asia
too is accorded the regard and the respect that is
its due.
54. Mutual respect demands an acceptance that those
who have a different view are not necessarily
misguided or evil. Mutual respect demands a minimum
level of humility on all sides. The countries of
the West have a right to their preferences. But
they have no right to ram their preferences down
everyone's throat.
55. They have the right to resort fully to the
power of persuasion. They have no right to resort
to the persuasion of power.
56. In a speech at a `Europe/East Asia Summit'
organised by the World Economic Forum in 1994, I
half jokingly said that in their more exuberant
moments, there are many Asian leaders who think they
can solve the problem of Serbian atrocities in
Bosnia, the problems of the Basques, of Northern
Ireland, and the income inequalities between
northern and southern Italy.
57. In many Western societies there are massive
problems of drug addiction. There are teachers
afraid of their pupils. There is chronic vandalism.
58. There are some societies where there are more
illegitimate babies than legitimate ones. There are
countries where large numbers in their 30s or even
40s have never worked for a single day of their
lives. There are places where an unemployed person
is better off not working than if he found a job.
59. There are some democracies where political
leaders are afraid to do what they know is right for
one reason or another. And the people and their
leaders live in fear, fear of the free media which
they so loudly proclaim as inviolable.
60. Indeed they are quite literally oppressed by
their own media, the way people in feudal societies
are oppressed by their rulers, knowing their
unfortunate situation but not daring to raise their
voices against an established institution, to curb
its excesses.
61. Many Asian leaders, in their moments of levity,
I hasten to add, believe that they have the answers
to such problems. If some European countries want
their help and advice, I said, "I am sure they would
be willing to give such help and advice." But so
far, it has not entered the mind of any Asian leader
to threaten sanctions if any Western country fails
to put its house in order.
62. No Asian parliament I am aware of has passed a
single resolution calling on its Government to take
steps should a European country not reform itself.
63. If any Asian leader were to so threaten or if
any Asian parliament were to so act, the West would
regard them as mad. The West would regard the whole
idea as preposterous.
63. If any Asian leader were to so threaten or if
any Asian parliament were to so act, the West would
regard them as mad. The West would regard the whole
idea as preposterous.
64. If it is preposterous and mad for Asian leaders
to threaten sanctions when Europeans fail to measure
up to their standards and norms, could it not be a
little preposterous for Europeans to threaten
sanctions when decent Asian societies prefer their
own standards and norms and not Europe's?
65. To this and many other questions which I asked,
I did not get a reply. All I received was public
admonition. Although what I said about Europe might
be true, came the rebuttal, it was `unacceptable'.
I repeat `unacceptable'. It was not `unwise' not
`injudicious' but `unacceptable' that I should have
publicly mentioned some of the ills found in Europe.
66. A European press correspondent asked me
afterwards whether I thought that the European
participants had come to the forum (in Singapore) to
be lectured to by me. The free Press which lectures
all the time to the world obviously did not think I
have a right to free speech.
67. The famous political scientist, Samuel
Huntington ended his equally famous essay, The Clash
of Civilisations, with a half-hearted call for the
civilisations to co-exist. With all the passion
that I can command, I call not for co-existence but
for mutual cultural enrichment.
68. We in Asia have learnt a great deal from the
West. We will be unnecessarily constraining our
full potential if this process were now to be
stopped. At the same time we in Asia have to learn
a great deal also from `the East', from the rest of
Asia, from Africa and Latin America -- and from the
best that our own histories and cultures have to
offer.
69. I believe that North America too may find some
value in this message of enriching each other, of
mutual enrichment, of rejuvenation and of self
discovery.
70. Asian values are Asian values; American values
are American values. The twain can meet. And from
the meeting there might be some understanding and
appreciation of the wisdom of each, and hopefully a
wedding of the good and rejection of what is bad or
evil.
71. Let us all admit that no one has a monopoly of
wisdom. Let us deliberately prepare for and
enthusiastically partake of a feast of
civilisations, where we each take the best that all
of us have to offer -- and together build for the
first time a single global civilisation such as the
world has never seen.
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