Oleh : DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat : RCS, KUALA LUMPUR
Tarikh : 13-10-2000
Tajuk : THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE
INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF THE
ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY (RCS)
Penyampai : PM
On behalf of the Government and people of
Malaysia, I have great pleasure in extending a very
warm welcome to all delegates to the International
Meeting of the Royal Commonwealth Society here in Kuala
Lumpur. I hope that you will have a pleasant stay and
a fruitful meeting here.
2. I am indeed honoured to be invited to address this
gathering and particularly so, as I understand, this is
the first time that the Royal Commonwealth Society is
holding its meeting in Asia.
3. The Commonwealth is a unique group of nations, for
despite its cultural diversity, it is bound by a set of
common perceptions about the principles of good
governance, human rights, the rule of law and
sustainable development. From a handful of countries
at its inception, it has now grown into a voluntary
association of 54 independent countries representing
one-third of the world's population. The Commonwealth
should continue to remain united in purpose in order to
face up to the many challenges in the new millennium.
4. The Commonwealth is now no longer a grouping of
the ex-colonies of the British Empire. It is more a
grouping of like-minded countries. While this is good,
we must make sure that there are not so many members
that we get dragged down by our weight and become
unable, not only to decide on a consensual basis but
even to meet at the highest level.
5. Over the last ten years, the Commonwealth has
become a more effective force for promoting democracy,
respect for human rights and good governance. It has
taken more practical initiatives for assisting the
socio-economic development of its member states,
particularly the developing countries.
6. To progress the Commonwealth must continue to
review its role and adapt to a fast changing world. It
must ensure that its members are adequately equipped to
handle the challenges brought to its doorstep as, for
example by globalisation. While globalisation has
opened opportunities for the creation of wealth and
economic growth, it has also brought with it new risks
and threats. Globalisation can bring benefits if its
practices are governed by rules and regulations, which
can ensure that the poor and developing countries will
also share in the benefits. Without rules and
internationally accepted laws, anarchy would prevail.
Only the unprincipled will benefit from anarchy.
7. We are entering the age of information technology
where globalisation and a borderless world cannot be
avoided. Whether we like it or not, globalisation is
here to stay and can only increase in its impact. It
is true that the advent of communications technologies
has shrunk the distance between nations, providing new
opportunities for the transfer of knowledge and
technology. But the main question is how many of us
have the capacity to apply these new technologies?
Whilst modern technology helps draw us closer together,
for the have-nots, it can widen further the disparities
between the rich and the poor. Already there is much
talk of the digital divide, and this will amplify the
inequities between us.
8. Thus, the greatest challenge facing us is to
ensure that globalisation does not benefit only a few
while marginalising or impoverishing a large number of
developing countries. Many developing countries are
constrained by the lack of capital, institutional
capacities and physical infrastructure. They are
therefore unable to seize fully the opportunities
opened by globalisation. The developed countries have
been more successful in integrating themselves into the
global economy and reaping the benefits. In this
respect, the more developed members of the Commonwealth
should assist developing member countries to build
their capacity to deal with the new global environment.
9. Malaysia believes that in the new millennium,
relations among states should be based on a new
paradigm predicated not only by equal sovereignty but
also by the respect for the dignity and mutuality of
interests and benefits of everyone. It is only on such
a basis that we would be able to reap the full
potential of globalisation.
10. The onslaught on Malaysia's currency is a case in
point. There is not the slightest care on the part of the
currency traders and manipulators and their backers for the
social cost, poverty and the misery that they cause to the
victims of their speculative attacks. They are interested
only in their own financial gains. In a matter of weeks,
years of hard work and toil to develop the country was
destroyed.
11. The idea that the market will regulate itself and
discipline Governments is ridiculous. The market is only
interested in profits for the players, usually the very
rich investors in rich countries who put up the billions
needed to manipulate the market. While they insist that
Governments must be transparent and that nothing should be
placed in the way of their access to markets, they
themselves are secretive and little is known about their
funds, their investors and their activities. They flit
across the world at literally the speed of light amassing
huge fortunes, leaving behind a trail of destroyed
economies and misery for the people of developing
countries.
12. The world's financial system and the unregulated
and mysterious flow of capital may benefit the
speculators but they do the world no good at all. They
are destructive. They destroy more wealth than the
profits that they make for themselves. It is not even
a zero sum game. It is a totally negative game in
which the winner destroys more than he gains. It is
time that this vicious system is outlawed and the
world's economy especially the economy of the poorer
nations be freed of this worst manifestation of
capitalist greed.
13. Even without these marauders the small countries
of the world is not safe in a globalised world. I
believe the Commonwealth can play an important role in
helping its member states to mould the new borderless
global world. The Commonwealth could work together to
ensure that the developing countries become full
participants in international economic discussions, in
shaping and influencing the rules and laws of a
globalised world. It could also work to promote
policies that help to close the digital gaps between
the poor and rich countries so that knowledge can truly
work for enriching everyone, rich and poor.
14. The Royal Commonwealth Society and its various
branches abroad should not only promote the spirit of
the Commonwealth but also the contents of the
Commonwealth. Together it should insist on playing a
meaningful role in world affairs. I have faith that if
we stay united, the Commonwealth will continue to be
significant as a role model of North - South
cooperation for mutual benefit.
15. I wish all delegates a fruitful and stimulating
meeting
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