Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	THE FEDERAL HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	24/08/82 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE 12TH MEETING OF THE 
			COMMONWEALTH SCIENCE COUNCIL (CSC) 




It gives me great pleasure to welcome all of you to Malaysia in
conjunction with the 12th Biennial Meeting of the Commonwealth Science
Council. Malaysia feels honoured to host this meeting in the firm belief
that the advancement of science and technology is a sine qua non for
further progress of the less-developed countries (LDCs) as much as it is
for the advanced countries.

2. Malaysia fully appreciates the role of science and technology in
development. We believe that modern science and technology is not only
necessary for the modernisation of our industrial sector, but also of our
agricultural sector. Further, we believe that science and technology
should be used not merely for the material development of our nation, but
also for the enhancement of the quality of life, and the achievement of
peace and harmony both within the country and also in the relation between
nations.

3. Malaysia is undergoing a fairly rapid rate of development and
modernisation. While we need the cooperation of the advanced countries to
boost our economic growth, we also place considerable emphasis on
self-reliance. The harnessing of scientific and technological knowledge is
vital to that self-reliance. We are not about to invent the wheel again
but the application of discoveries and inventions originating elsewhere is
a part of the exercise in self-reliance. Of course we intend to fully
utilise all the foreign expertise that may be made available to us.

4. However, the scientific knowledge and technology of the West cannot be
simply imported into the country. It must be properly adjusted and adapted
in order to fit into the special needs and requirements of the nation. As
such, our own research must be directed firstly, to the identification of
the scientific and technological knowledge that can be utilised in the
country, and secondly, to modify that knowledge and its application in
order to fit in with our peculiar situation and needs.

5. These are our major interests in so far as they involve the advancement
of science and technology in this country.

We think that they should also be the areas of interest of other
developing nations. We cannot afford to spend too much of our time and
limited resources on the basic scientific and technological research as do
the rich and advanced nations. We only hope that these countries will
share relevant discoveries with us. Only with such readiness to share and
help can there be a more meaningful and satisfying relationship between
the developing and the developed countries. Clearly the developed
countries of the Commonwealth can play a more meaningful role to lessen
the problems and difficulties of the developing countries within the
Commonwealth.

6. The potential of the Commonwealth Science Council in bringing about a
more equitable sharing of scientific and technological resources is
enormous. As a catalyst, the Commonwealth Science Council can enhance
collaboration among member countries of the Commonwealth in increasing the
capabilities of individual nations to use science and technology for their
economic and social advancement. It is only then that the Council can
justify its exsitence.

7. As you are aware, one of the targets of many developing countries is
industrialisation. This is also the case with Malaysia. In the quest for
industrialisation, research is constantly needed, even if the level of
research is elementary. Indeed research and development, whether
rudimentary or otherwise, is now a basic requirement of industry. In order
that R & D can contribute to productivity, the system and the methods must
be learnt through exchanges of expertise between the advanced and the
developing countries, as well as among the developing countries
themselves. Inter-country and inter-industry cooperation is, therefore,
most useful.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

8. I would like to take this opportunity to make some specific reference
to the type of help and assistance that developing nations like Malaysia
require in order to progress further. I am mentioning this so that those
of you representing the developed countries may examine further how you
can help in return for the kind of cooperation and support that we can
give to your own efforts in achieving further advancement. scientific and
technological personnel. The Commonwealth Science Council can certainly
assist . The cost of training in your respective countries should not be
so high as to be beyond our reach. Scientific and technological knowledge
like all other forms of knowledge, we believe, increases as you share it
with others. The more our scientific and technological personnel go to
your countries for training, the more will your countries be able to
extend the frontiers of knowledge in the application of new
discoveries. As a bonus, our personnel who have got used to your
techniques and equipments are going to act as the best salesmen of your
research and other products when they return to work in their own
countries.

10. Developing countries are so designated because they are relatively
poor. If they are going to be able to buy from the developed countries the
equipments and products they need, they must be helped to attain the
financial capacity to do so. This is where the developed countries should
be more liberal not only in importing products from developing countries
but also in the transfer of scientific know-how and technology. The
chances of developing countries subsequently outstripping the developed in
the utilisation of scientific and technological know-how are so slim that
it should be totally discounted. Only the most primitive of the discarded
industries will find a place in the developing world. If then the products
are bought by the developed nations, the developing nations will have the
financial capacity to import technology and other needs. lead to conflicts
between the two. Human societies have devised many ways of reducing their
tendency towards such conflicts. Thus even capitalistic societies provide
protection and help for the poor at the expense of the rich.

11. The concept of graduated tax on incomes is a typical example. But the
community of nations has not yet accepted the principle that the rich
should help the poor. Perhaps it is because poor nations are incapable of
threatening the rich, as poor workers are capable through their
unions. But, whatever the reason, certainly the social responsibility of
nations is not well developed.

12. I would appeal to the scientists who are attending this meeting, to be
not only scientists but also people with a of the world should, where
appropriate, override the narrow interests of one's own nation. The poor
countries need help -- not handouts, but a helping hand for their
development. Scientific and technological knowledge is one instrument that
can do this. And so the Commonwelth Science Council should be very
positive in this task of spreading the kind of knowledge that builds
nations.

13. It is now my pleasure to declare the 12th. Meeting of the Commonwealth
Science Council formally open and I wish you every success.

Prime Minister's Office, Kuala Lumpur.