Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. 
			MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	THE SUNWAY LAGOON RESORT HOTEL, 
			PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	05/11/99 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE WORLD 15TH HAKKA CONVENTION 

   
    
  
       I  would like to first of all thank Tan Sri Jeffrey
  Cheah  for having invited me to address you this morning
  and to declare open this 15th World Hakka Convention.
  
  2.     I  would also like to congratulate the Federation
  of  Hakka  Associations of Malaysia for having  won  the
  confidence  of the world body to grant it the  privilege
  of  convening the convention here in Kuala Lumpur.  I am
  told  that  you have representatives from  50  different
  parts  of  the  world which alone is indicative  of  the
  influence of the Hakka community world-wide.
  
  3.    The  Hakka  presence in this  part  of  the  world
   according  to records available goes back  to  the  17th
  century  in  Western  Kalimantan.   There  was  a   mere
  handful  of  them  then.   By  1770,  before  the  Dutch
  presence, their numbers had grown to 20,000 and by  then
  they  had  established what was known as  "Kongsis"  (or
  fraternities) to protect their interests.   By  the  end
  of  the 18th century, Hakkas who had come from Kwangtung
  were  so  strong  and powerful that they  were  able  to
  establish  a  Republic  in  Western  Kalimantan.    This
  Republic  lasted 107 years and had 10 Hakka  presidents.
  History  tells  us that it was customary in  those  days
  for  Hakka  men  travelling overseas not to  take  their
  wives  with  them.   I believe that practice  has  since
  ceased  and  I  am  glad  to  see  many  ladies  in  the
  audience.
  
  4.    In Malaysia, the history of Kuala Lumpur would  be
  incomplete  if  we  do not take into consideration,  the
  contributions  of the Hakka leaders who became  "Kapitan
   China"  or  Chinese Captains of the tin industry.   Even
  before  the  arrival of Yap Ah Loy in Kuala Lumpur  from
  Sungai  Ujong  in Negeri Sembilan in 1862,  the  village
  was  already an active tin mining centre.  At that  time
  Kuala  Lumpur was governed by Yap Ah Loy's old friend  -
  another  Hakka - named Liu Ngim Kong, from  the  Huichou
  Prefecture in China's Guangdong Province.  Yap Ah  Loy's
  rise  to  wealth  and fame was always  assisted  by  his
  Hakka  clansmen.   Yap  Ah Loy's  kinsman  and  business
  partner was Yap Ah Shak.  While Yap Ah Shak was said  to
  be  an introvert, interested in business, Yap Ah Loy was
  an  extrovert.  He had great charisma and enjoyed public
  and political duties.
  
  5.    Turbulent  indeed were those  days  with  viscious
  fights  -  mostly over rich tin deposits.  Outbreaks  of
  diseases, fires and secret society battles were  common.
  With  Mohamad  Tahir,  the  then  leader  of  the  Malay
  community  in  Kuala  Lumpur,  the  two  Yaps  laid  the
   groundwork  for the development of modern Kuala  Lumpur.
  So  you can see, ladies and gentlemen, that co-operation
  between  the Malays and Chinese - or to be more exact  -
  the  Hakkas, had its beginnings one and a half centuries
  ago.
  
  6.    In  modern  day Malaysia, I must  say  that  among
  other  things, it is the basic economic strength of  the
  Chinese  community that has helped the country face  the
  recent   attacks   by   currency   speculators.     More
  importantly,  the  Chinese  have  clearly  shown   their
  willingness  to  share the bounty that  Malaysia  offers
  with  the Malays and other races in the overall interest
  of   the   nation's  stability.   I  hope   this   close
  cooperation   and   mutual   understanding   among   the
  different races will continue.
  
  7.    Your  convention in this capital city of  ours  is
  one   more   indicator   that  Malaysia   has   securely
  established   itself  as  an  international   convention
  centre attracting leaders from a variety of fields.   To
   our  visitors,  I  am pleased to say that  you  will  be
  meeting  people  in  this hall  whom  I  would  like  to
  describe  as the cream of the Malaysian Hakka Community.
  This   community   has  grown  into  a  cohesive   force
  displaying  not  only vibrancy and entrepreneurship  but
  also  has within its ranks people who have distinguished
  themselves  in  the  different  professions  -  and   in
  politics.
  
  8.    I  cannot  resume my seat without commenting  that
  the  Federation  of Hakka Associations of  Malaysia  has
  done  well  in  electing Tan Sri Jeffrey  Cheah  as  its
  President.   For, like Yap Ah Loy, he has a  strong  tin
  mining background.  Truly a modern Kapitan China.
  
  9.    I  now have great pleasure in declaring open  this
  15th  World  Hakka Convention and wish  you  the  utmost
  success  in  your deliberations.  I trust that  all  our
  foreign  visitors  will take home  with  them  the  most
  pleasant memories of their visit to Malaysia.