Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	KYRGYZ STATE UNIVERSITY 
			BISHKEK, KYRGYZ 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	16/07/96 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE OCCASSION OF THE CONFERMEN OF A 
			PROFESSORSHIP AWARD BY THE KYRGYZ 
			STATE UNIVERSITY 



     1.   I am delighted to be here today on this special
    occassion. It is indeed a great honour to be invited
    by  this  August University and to be conferred  the
    esteemed   professorship  award.   As  the   premier
    institution  of  higher  learning  in   the   Kyrgyz
    Republic, this University inspired a great  deal  of
    awe and respect and it is a particular privilege  to
    be welcomed here.
    
    2.   Universities as centres of higher learning have
    always had a special place in my heart.  I have been
    associated  with  institutions of  higher  education
    from  quite  early  in my public life.  Universities
    inspire  a genuine search for knowledge, encouraging
    the   habit  of  reading,  research,  thinking   and
    understanding  of a vast range of the  most  complex
    and  arcane subjects. As a rule, universities always
    strive  for  excellence  in teaching,  research  and
    development  and  although  they  pursue  knowledge,
    creativity  and research in a rarefied  environment,
    their  work, teaching and contribution often  impact
    upon  society  in  a most positive and  constructive
    way.
    
    3.   The remarkable thing about universities is that
    they are concerned with and give equal importance to
    developments  of the past, present and  the  future.
    Apart   from  the  arts  and  humanities  they   are
    concerned with the theoretical and applied  sciences
    in  an  unrelenting  quest  for  knowledge.   As  is
    sometimes  the  case,  this  unrelenting  quest  for
    knowledge goes beyond the ethics of society.  It  is
    therefore  important  that  we  all  emphasise  that
    although   for  the  sake  of  knowledge  is   good,
    knowledge for the good of mankind is better.  Let us
    not   waste  our  talents  on  knowledge   that   is
    irrelevant to society.
    
    4.    As  citadels  of higher learning  universities
    cannot  operate in isolation and cannot  be  removed
    and  remote from society.  They have to be sensitive
    to  the  aspirations and needs of society.   At  the
    same  time they have to inspire the quest and thirst
    for  knowledge  and research.  Being  in  developing
    countries  the role of the universities in producing
    professionals,  educators and  good  technocrats  is
    even  more important.  Our universities must  always
    be   conscious  of  their  particular  relevance  to
    developing economies.
    
    5.     I   have  no  doubt  that  the  Kyrgyz  State
    University, with the fine academic tradition that it
    has  established over the past four decades  of  its
    existence,  will continue to strive for the  highest
    levels  of achievement.  The work and research  that
    this University carries out will transcend national,
    geographical   and   sometimes   even   metaphysical
    boundaries.  With the facilities that are  available
    today   they   are   exciting  prospects   for   the
    Universities in the Kyrgyz Republic to be  in  touch
    with  centres of higher learning in other countries.
    I  trust  there  is  scope for  this  University  to
    cooperate  with  the Universities  in  Malaysia  and
    establish   linkages   that  will   prove   mutually
    beneficial.   I personally hope these linkages  will
    come   to  fruition  soon.   I  wish  Kyrgyz   State
    University  success  in its academic,  research  and
    experimental endeavours.
    
    6.    On the positive note, I have great pleasure in
    accepting   the   Professorship   Award   of    this
    University.