Oleh/By : DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : KOTA KINABALU, SABAH
Tarikh/Date : 12-02-2001
Tajuk/Title : THE 36TH SOUTH EAST ASIA
MINISTERS OF EDUCATION
ORGANISATION (SEAMEO) COUNCIL
CONFERENCE
Versi : ENGLISH
Penyampai : PM
Let me first of all extend a very warm welcome to
all Ministers, distinguished delegates and observers to
Malaysia. We are indeed very honoured by your presence
in the city of Kota Kinabalu to attend the 36th South
East Asia Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO)
Council Conference.
2. For the past 35 years, you have gathered annually
to renew your pledge to promote cooperation and
collaboration in education, science and culture in
Southeast Asia. This year is the real beginning of the
new Millennium. I think it is timely that we ask
ourselves what SEAMEO needs to do to remain relevant
and viable to all its member states.
3. Perhaps we can approach the above question by
examining some of the inter-related challenges that
confront us in the new Millennium.
4. SEAMEO comprises member states that range across a
broad socio-economic spectrum -- countries whose
economies are at different stages of development.
Therefore, the first challenge
we face is to narrow the economic gap between SEAMEO
member states. Unless we are able to do this, the new
global forces will push us further apart.
5. We have therefore a need to understand these
forces which go under the collective term
"globalisation" and to be able to handle them and their
abuses. It is argued that globalisation will lead to
the spread of wealth to everyone. I agree that
deepening economic integration, increasing economic
openness and growing economic interdependence is a
desirable thing but it must not be done at the expense
of neighbours who lack the resources to compete in a
free-for-all open market. Globalisation will only
benefit everyone if we have equal capacity to compete.
A level playing field is not enough.
6. I am not against globalisation but the
interpretation given to it at the moment will only
benefit the rich with minimal or no benefit to the
poor. Free flow of capital can only benefit those with
capital. Free trade too can only benefit those with
goods or products to export. Those without capital and
goods can only see a one way flow. Whereas inflow of
capital can be beneficial for a poor country but a free
flow also implies an outflow. If the capital brought
in is suddenly pulled out an economic recession will
almost certainly happen. If again the export earnings
of a country is not brought back because of one reason
or another, the free capital flow can also undermine
the economy of a country.
7. As for free trade, it must be remembered that no
country can sustain an adverse trade balance for long.
Unrestricted imports of highly competitive goods must
affect local industries adversely. On the other hand
exports of local goods to sophisticated markets will be
met with insurmountable non-tariff barriers as well as
unequal competition. Raw material exports usually face
ever diminishing returns as they come up against more
and more substitutes. Besides, the trading centres for
all raw materials are in the developed countries and
there have been many instances these centres officially
support the speculators who failed to make good their
contract undertakings.
8. When the currency traders attacked the East Asian
countries they claimed that it was a part of free
trade. It may be so but the result of free currency
trading was to destroy all the economic tigers of East
Asia. Hundreds of billions of dollars of wealth built
up over decades were lost, millions were thrown out of
jobs, demonstrations and riots resulted in arson,
murder, rape, and the overthrow of Governments. The
consequent turmoil cannot be easily stopped and the
borrowings to resuscitate the economy can place the
country at the mercy of the lenders.
9. If such massive catastrophes can occur to economic
tigers, can we accept free trade as a blessing which we
must not reject ever?
10. But worse things seem to be on the horizon. In
anticipation of the opening up of markets the huge
banks and corporations of the rich are merging and
acquiring each other in order to become globally
dominant. These entities are very many times bigger
than most developing countries in terms of capital and
resources. The puny local banks and businesses would
stand no chance of competing with them. They will have
to accept being swallowed up by these giants.
11. A world dominated by a few huge banks and
corporations is not likely to be a free world.
Businesses are only concerned with profits. They are
not run by directors elected by the people as a whole.
They would not be too concerned about the social
problems and catastrophes that they cause. The
currency traders have already said that the impact of
their trading is not of concern to them. They see only
figures on the screen, not people.
12. Governments on the other hand, are concerned about
their countries and people. They may be incompetent or
not too straight but their reach is limited.
International pressures can be brought to bear on them.
But by and large Governments can be relied upon to look
after their countries and people. The Governments of
the East Asia tigers had developed their countries to a
high level.
13. But the super-giant corporations are beholden to
no one. Their shareholders care only for the returns
on their investments. Besides, they are backed by the
giant media corporations owned by their colleagues who
also have a stake in the kind of global operations that
they enjoy. Any outcry against their exploitation would
be silenced by the world media, which would always sing
the praises of globalisation and the good that comes
from having only a few giant corporations in every
sector. The disasters that the corporations and banks
and free trade cause would be glossed over or laid at
the feet of powerless Governments. We have already
seen this happen when currency trading destroyed
countries.
14. Free trade means low or no tariffs. But poor
countries depend on import duties for revenue and also
to protect local industries. Corporate and income
taxes are minimal. Obviously Government finances are
going to be adversely affected without import duties.
It is not clear what new taxes can provide funds for
these Governments. Even import licences or
certificates can be regarded as import taxes and
disallowed.
15. Perhaps I am painting too frightening a picture of
the fate of developing countries in a free trading
globalised world. But then Malaysia went through a
harrowing experience brought about by the currency
traders. We do not want to have that fate befall us
again. We managed to recover the last time but we are
not sure we can recover again if another economic
turmoil assails us.
16. Our currency turmoil had been an education for us,
a very costly education. If we are going to be able to
avoid such catastrophes our people must learn all about
free trade, globalisation and the international
financial and trade regimes. Perhaps a good number of
our universities should teach the new economics, the
ways currency is traded and manipulated, the roles and
power of the market and the giant corporations and
banks.
17. Globalisation is of course not about currency
flows alone or about free trade only. Globalisation
has been creeping on us without our realising it. The
media has been globalised long ago and as we all know
it exerts a powerful influence on our minds, our
acceptance or rejection of ideas and products.
18. The former voluntary organisations have also been
globalised. They are now called NGOs and they operate
across borders. Their influence and pressures limit
the powers of Governments and the international
community. Seattle showed how powerful they are.
19. Of concern to us here is the globalisation of
education. The advances made by information technology
have made the location of learning centres less
relevant than before. Distance learning is a reality
which can compete with the best of on-campus learning.
Students can now interact in real time with teachers
half way across the world. Recorded knowledge can be
accessed freely and completely from anywhere. It is
said that anybody can learn how to make a nuclear bomb
by accessing the writings and records available through
the Internet.
20. Obviously these masses of information can create a
more knowledgeable world. People will become more
intelligent and sophisticated. The best teachers in
the world will be at everyone's beck and call.
21. They used to say that a little knowledge is a
dangerous thing. Could it be that a lot of knowledge
is also a dangerous thing? Maybe there will not be too
many to attempt making a nuclear bomb. But what about
the more simple bombs which can make anarchists more
effective than they are now? Will we be seeing more
and more violence as more lethal instruments are
produced by the less responsible but knowledgeable
people?
22. Still we cannot stop the on-rush of the
information age. There are too many things to gain for
human society. If we reject knowledge then we will be
dominated by those who will acquire maximum knowledge.
As with other globalisation, the globalisation of
knowledge is inevitable. We reject it at our own
peril.
23. In the mad rush towards the global information
society, perhaps we should also think about ethics and
morality. Unless we are taught how to handle knowledge
well, knowledge will spell disaster for us. Maybe a
new code of ethics and morality should be devised,
designed to make knowledge and the information age a
blessing for us all the way. Maybe the ethics and
morality should be globalised also, and taught as a
compulsory subject to everyone.
24. Let us look again at the SEAMEO vision. It states:
"A dynamic, self-reliant, strategic policy-driven and
internationally recognised regional organisation for
strengthening regional understanding and cooperation in
education, science and culture for a better quality of
life."
25. Although conceived 36 years ago, this vision has
become more relevant than ever. In order to deal with
the challenges that we face in the 21st Century, we
need to remain dynamic and self-reliant. There is an
urgent need for us to clarify and implement our
strategic policies to cope with the multifaceted
globalisation and the mounting demands made on our
resources by advances in ICT. Our region must grow from
strength to strength in order to safeguard our
national, social and cultural integrity. This calls for
greater regional understanding and cooperation in all
fields and at all levels. We must help each other to
develop a cohesive and coherent entity. I believe in
this aspect, SEAMEO is poised to make significant and
meaningful contributions.
26. The same can be said about your mission. SEAMEO
seeks to enhance regional understanding and cooperation
and unity of purpose among member countries and achieve
a better quality of life. The paramount task ahead of
us is to ensure that all the member countries can work
in tandem and forge ahead hand in hand -- shouldering
together our burdens and sharing equally our
prosperity.
27. SEAMEO has indeed made great strides in meeting
its goals since its formation in 1965. The goals are
still relevant. However, the strategies that we employ
to realise them may have to change because of changing
needs and new demands. For instance, SEAMEO could play
a leading role in exploring ways to re-structure
education systems to meet the human resource demands of
an E-commerce or K-economy. The existing Regional
Centres can also look into ways to help member
countries set up their own Centres of Excellence that
will cater to the unique needs of each member country.
28. While we recognise the extent of the challenges we
have to face in the 21st Century, there is no reason
for pessimism. I am convinced that if we stay strong
and united, we will together overcome all obstacles.
29. I wish all of you a very successful Conference and
an enjoyable stay in Kota Kinabalu.
30. It gives me great pleasure now to declare the 36th
Conference of the Southeast Asian Ministers of
Education Organisation Council open.
Sumber : Pejabat Perdana Menteri
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