Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : SUNWAY LAGOON RESORT HOTEL,
PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR
Tarikh/Date : 24/07/97
Tajuk/Title : THE OPENING OF THE 30TH ASEAN
MINISTERIAL MEETING
1. It is indeed a privilege and an honour for me to
address this 30th Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers.
Yesterday, we witnessed the official admission of Laos and
Myanmar into ASEAN. We are therefore very close now to
fulfilling the vision of the Founding Nations of ASEAN in
1967 to bring together all the 10 South East Asian
countries into one regional grouping.
2. While this vision is yet to be fulfilled,
nevertheless the addition of Myanmar and Laos is a major
milestone in the history of South East Asia. Malaysia
feels honoured to be the host to this momentous event. Let
me take this opportunity to congratulate and welcome our
friends from Laos and Myanmar into the ASEAN community of
nations.
3. We still have cause to celebrate but let us not
forget the difficulties faced by the countries of South
East Asia in their early attempts to form a regional
forum, essentially to facilitate problem solving between
newly independent neighbours. After two false starts, five
of the South East Asian countries managed to launch ASEAN.
It was political necessity rather than economic
imperatives which brought these countries together. But
almost immediately there was talk about these countries
emulating the European Economic Community by becoming a
trade bloc.
4. The level of economic development of these countries
was very low then. An ASEAN economic bloc would have been
quite meaningless. Besides, the claims over each other's
territories remained to strain relations between various
pairs of ASEAN countries. It is a measure of the
pragmatism of these countries that they continued to meet
as ASEAN, even though bilateral relations between certain
members were strained. To this day the claims remain but
they have not prevented ASEAN from developing into a
regional forum with credibility in the world's economic,
social and political affairs. Such has been the initial
ASEAN five's success that the other countries of South
East Asia and even those outside evinced a keen desire to
join it.
5. ASEAN's accomplishments are even more remarkable
considering that not so long ago there were wars and
conflicts in the region and within many of the ASEAN
countries. It was predicted that if North Vietnam
achieved victory, then, like dominoes one by one the other
countries in the region would fall to Communism and chaos.
We were told then, as we are told now, that we needed
foreign protection against predatory neighbours such as a
victorious Vietnam and the other powerful Eastern
countries.
6. Against all odds Vietnam and its much derided
soldiers in black pyjamas won against the greatest power
on earth. But the dominoes did not fall. Instead, they
prospered and showed themselves very stable and capable of
managing their countries well. They seem prepared to
shed the ideological baggage of the past and accept the
need for economic reforms in order to give their people a
better life. Central planning gave way to market forces
and the promotion of international trade and foreign
investments. Aggressive territorial acquisition appears
to be the last thing on the minds of South East Asian
leaders. Peace and good neighbourliness seem to be the
preferred creed. And all evinced a desire to work
together to build a nuclear weapons-free region of peace,
freedom and neutrality.
7. There cannot be any doubt that membership of the
ASEAN grouping has contributed towards Governmental
rationality and serious concern for the well-being and
rapid development of member states. The members seem to
learn from each other how to administer and develop their
countries. They all seem to believe in working for the
good of their people, even if their individual styles may
differ. ASEAN has proven that regional cooperation among
developing countries is possible and can produce results.
8. Very recently the World Bank has acknowledged that
good government is the key to the development of poor
economies. Conversely, it must be concluded that the poor
economies which have now developed are blessed with good
government.
9. The ASEAN countries have all been poor but are today
among the most dynamic economies of the world. It follows
that the Government of ASEAN countries know what is meant
by good Government and their model should be emulated.
10. The world should conclude that membership of ASEAN
would have a steadying influence on domestic politics and
would help the progress of member countries. The world
should welcome the accession to ASEAN of any country which
qualifies. It is regrettable that there are those who
would not see the obvious. Instead of encouraging ASEAN
to accept all South East Asian countries as soon as
possible, ASEAN has been urged to pass judgement, deny
membership and apply pressure on a potential candidate so
as to force that country to remain poor and therefore
unstable. ASEAN must resist and reject such attempts at
coercion. They are not a part of the ASEAN way. We will
resolve our problem in our own way and in our own time. No
one, but no one should assume that only they know the
solutions to all problems. They have failed far too often
for us to be convinced that only they know what is right
and what is wrong.
11. The countries of ASEAN, like all countries, need
security and peace. We have decided that ASEAN will not
become a military alliance in order to protect ourselves,
although each one of us is free to have bilateral
arrangements with other members for mutual security.
Those who are concerned about our safety should support
our concept of a Nuclear-Free Zone of Peace, Freedom and
Neutrality. We see no enemy and we would not want to
label anyone as our potential enemy. If we have problems
with non-ASEAN countries, we will together seek a solution
through negotiations using our unity as a lever.
12. We appreciate the offer to defend us but how can we
be sure the promised help will be forthcoming when we see
so many countries being abandoned to their fates as soon
as they were in trouble. We know that the first priority
of the protectors would be to pull out their forces. The
pledge to protect human rights irrespective of borders and
sovereignty has proven empty time and time again. We know
we will be left to face the problem and to pay the cost
with our lives and our wealth. In the final analysis we
can rely only on ourselves. Foreswearing force as a means
of settling problems between ourselves, we can ensure our
safety through a willingness to settle problems the ASEAN
way.
13. For us, our ultimate defence will be our stability
and economic strength as well as our willingness to stay
together, even though we made no promise to fight
alongside each other, not being a military bloc.
14. Economic strength is all-important. In a world
dedicated to economic growth through a free market system,
territorial acquisition is no longer worthwhile. It is no
longer a source of wealth and power. Those who talk of
military conquests and colonial territories are living in
the past. They know very well that other forms of
hegemony is possible. The threat faced by nations is
economic sanctions to impoverish the people and to stir
internal strife. Weakened, the unfortunate countries will
have to submit as completely as if they are colonies. We
should therefore concentrate on economic development and
the well-being of our people. And ASEAN countries have
demonstrated that they know how to do this. Now together
with our new members the South East Asian countries can
cooperate and help each other to prosper economically.
That way we will become internally stable and less
susceptible to the kind of outside pressures our
detractors like to apply.
15. Economic prosperity is really the answer to our
security problems because with prosperity ASEAN will be
taken seriously and its views respected. It is for this
reason that whenever our Foreign Ministers meet it is
usual for the major economies of the world to have
Ministerial dialogues with us. Even on matters of security
we have devised a regional forum in order to trash out
perceived problems. No other regional organisation has
such an arrangement. Military strength may inspire fear
but it will lead to a costly arms race. The benefits will
only accrue to the manufacturers and traders in the
weapons of war. Economic prosperity inspire respect but
at a much lower cost, while the benefits remain with us.
16. In December of this year, the Heads of Government of
all the ASEAN countries will meet informally here in Kuala
Lumpur. It will be an epoch-making gathering for the
Heads of Government of nine countries of South East Asia
will be meeting as leaders of one of the world's strongest
regional groupings. There will be a lot of serious things
to discuss, decisions and stands to be made. They will
not be just celebrating 30 years of ASEAN but also have
serious regional and international matters to discuss.
17. The world now talks glibly of a borderless world, of
the Information Age, of open markets and open societies.
ASEAN, a group of developing countries will need to know
how all these new concepts about international commerce
and politics will affect us. It is wonderful to know that
all the huge markets of the developed countries will be
open to us in exchange for our opening up of our tiny
markets. But can we really gain access to these markets.
Or will the removal of border cause a flow in one
direction only.
18. Presently we see a well-planned effort to undermine
the economies of all the ASEAN countries by destabilising
their currencies. Our economic fundamentals are good yet
anyone with a few billion dollars can destroy all the
progress that we have made. We are told we must open up,
that trade and commerce must be totally free. Free for
whom? For rogue speculators. For anarchists wanting to
destroy weak countries in their crusade for open
societies, to force us to submit to the dictatorship of
international manipulators. We want to embrace
borderlessness but we still need to protect ourselves from
self-serving rogues and international brigandage.
19. Already we are seeing giant companies swallowing up
chunks of the business in the developing world. They
monopolise the services sector through their huge
shipping, airlines, insurance companies and banks. The
media, print and electronic are now controlled by them
throughout the world. We are denied press freedom by the
many people who trumpet press freedom. Only bad news
about us are published, the good news are often buried in
their archives.
20. We worry, we should worry about this borderless world
of the Information Age and the free market. We are not
rejecting it out of hand. But we should know where we
stand. We should know how we are going to handle the
problems which will arise. Already they have formed
powerful regional trade blocs. And eight of the most
powerful nations have decided that they, and they alone,
should determine the fate of every country. When they
agree on anything, as for example the revaluation of the
Yen, we have to pay the price. And when they quarrel we
will be trampled under.
21. Alone, none of the South East Asian countries will be
able to protect itself. But nine ASEAN countries with
half a billion people may be able to do something to help
ourselves.
22. We are glad that when the leaders of the ASEAN nine
meet, there will also be a meeting with the leaders of the
three biggest economies in North East Asia. We will then
have an opportunity to present our views on a whole lot of
international issues to them, for their economies are
closely linked to ours. What affects us will affect them
too. We abhor trade blocs but we do need as many
countries to understand our problems as we can find. We
may be moving towards a borderless world, but we also see
greater exclusivity on the part of the rich. More than
ever we need to win friends, even from among the exclusive
group.
23. In this region we believe in a Prosper-Thy-Neighbour
policy. This is not due to altruism. It is really
motivated by selfishness. Prosperous neighbours make good
trading partners and give each other less problems. The
problems of poor neighbours tend to spill over their
borders. It is for this selfish reason that we reject
Beggar-Thy-Neighbour policies.
24. But we must not be passive in the exercise of this
Prosper-Thy-Neighbour policy. We should actively help
each other. Certainly the newer members of our
Association are going to need help in order to catch up
with the older members. I believe there is an ASEAN
formula for success, for how else can we explain why every
ASEAN country has shown rapid economic growth and
political stability? We must help every country to make
use of this formula so that we can all be stable and
prosperous.
25. Once again I would like to stress the importance of
being economically prosperous. Prosperity is essential
for the avoidance of internal conflict. A former American
Secretary of State, Mr Robert S McNamara, noted that the
incidence of (internal) conflict had been highest in the
poorest countries and lowest in the richest. In helping
our fellow members to prosper, we are in fact helping to
reduce conflict in our countries. With this we will all
prosper and be conflict-free. And we as neighbours will
benefit from the wealth and the absence of conflict in our
region. Again we see the selfishness in the policy to
prosper your neighbours.
26. There are roughly half a billion people in the ASEAN
member countries now. They are not the richest people but
even though per capita income may be low, their total
purchasing power is still considerable. Besides, with
their high growth rates their economic clout must increase
rapidly. Their low cost of production, the skills and the
diligence of their people are assets which will make them
attractive to investors and traders alike. The future is
indeed bright for the countries of the ASEAN. We know
what we must do collectively. We know what we must do
individually. And we have the strength to do what is best
for us and to defend ourselves. If we fail, we can blame
no one but ourselves. We must not fail. That must be our
resolve.
27. I would like to bid welcome to all the distinguished
delegates to the 30th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and to all
our honoured guests. This meeting makes a milestone in
the history of South East Asia. It is also a milestone in
the history of regional cooperation. We believe in
strength through unity. We reject exclusivity. We
suffered in a bipolar world. We know now that a unipolar
world is no better. We know that alone we each will
suffer. Only through being together can we maintain and
benefit from our hard-won independence.
28. I wish you a fruitful conference.
29. I now have pleasure in declaring open the 30th
meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Association of
South East Asian Nations.
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