Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT, KAHERAH 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	11/12/84 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL DINNER 
			HOSTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY PRIME 
			MINISTER KAMAL HASSAN ALY OF THE 
			ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT, KAHERAH 




Your Excellency Prime Minister Kamal Hassan Aly and
Madam; Excellencies; Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Please allow me, on behalf of my wife and members of my delegation, to
express my sincere appreciation for the very warm, friendly, and brotherly
welcome that Your Excellency, and the Government and people of the Arab
Republic of Egypt have extended to us on our arrival today in this ancient
and historic city. We are also appreciative of the very generous
hospitality that you have accorded us. I must say that we are deeply
impressed by the excellent arrangements that you have very thoughtfully
made to ensure that my delegation and I will have the fullest opportunity
not only to discuss matters of common concern but also to feel the pulse
and tempo of Egypt's industrial and cultural life.

2. As you know this is not my first visit to your great country as I had
the pleasure of visiting Egypt in 1977.

Nevertheless, I must say that I have looked forward to this visit to
Egypt, a nation with a long and ancient history, a tradition as a centre
of Islamic scholarship and a dynamic state in West Asia. Quite apart from
this, I believe that a meeting between our two countries at the highest
level would pave the way for greater cooperation. It therefore gives me
great pleasure to be back in Egypt today.

3. Malaysia and Egypt have always enjoyed very close and cordial relations
that even pre-dated the independence of Malaysia in 1957. Since the
establishment of formal diplomatic ties, our relations have progressed in
quantum leaps free of any real problems. There have been many exchanges of
visit between our two countries so much so that our respective leaders and
officials are no stranger to each other. Our two peoples also enjoy
wide-ranging exchanges through educational, religious and trade and
economic contacts.

4. Excellency, the most important challenge facing all developing
countries is the need to enhance socio-economic development. This is
particularly so when we are faced with an international economic order
that is manifestly unfair and biased against the developing countries. I
know that Egypt has always been a great champion of the struggle to bring
about a fundamental revision of the international economic system. But
even the best of efforts cannot bring about this much needed reform unless
there is some response on the part of the developed countries. Therefore
if we cannot seek redress from the developed countries it is our bounden
duty to search for other ways to fulfill the aspirations of our respective
peoples for socio-economic progress.

5. Excellency, Malaysia and Egypt have in their own unique way chartered a
path towards economic development. Perhaps the time has now come for us to
jointly seek out new and wider avenues for economic cooperation so as to
complement our respective economic development programmes in the spirit of
South-South cooperation. I look forward to exploring this idea further
with you and your officials.

6. Our two countries too have had a long tradition of contact in the field
of education. Indeed, for many decades it has been the ambition of every
aspiring Malaysian Islamic scholar to study at the world famous Al-Azhar
University.

Through scholarship at Al-Azhar and exposure to the Egyptian way of life,
generations of Malaysian scholars have returned to Malaysia with rich
experiences. Today Egypt plays host to several hundred Malaysian
students. We are indeed appreciative of this.

7. As Your Excellency is no doubt aware, Malaysia, in its desire to
contribute to the advancement of Islamic scholarship has established the
International Islamic University in Kuala Lumpur with the support and
assistance of our brothers in the Organisation of Islamic Conference.

With the establishment of this new university, Malaysia will now be able
to welcome students from Egypt as well.

8. Excellency, I am happy to note that the excellent cooperation that
exists between our two countries extends from bilateral to international
relations as well. Our two countries have cooperated actively at the
United Nations and in the Non-Aligned Movement, in pursuit of peace and
stability. Malaysia highly values the support you have given us with
regard to the situation in Kampuchea where foreign forces have made a
mockery of the high principles that has become the cornerstone of peaceful
relations between neighbours. The support of a highly respected
Non-Aligned nation that helped give the world the 'principles of peaceful
co-existence' is a particular source of comfort for Malaysia and its
partners in ASEAN in its quest to achieve lasting peace through the
establishment of a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality in Southeast
Asia.

In addition, we are appreciative that you share our concern with regard to
Antarctica which must be recognised as the common heritage of all mankind.

9. Malaysia has always been committed to Islamic solidarity, seeing in it
our greatest strength in facing the many challenges that confront the
Islamic Ummah. In this connection my Government is delighted to welcome
Egypt's readmission into the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

It is our earnest hope that our Islamic Ummah will close ranks and strive
still harder to resolve the problem of Palestine where our Palestinian
brothers are valiantly struggling for justice against Zionism; to bring an
end to the tragic war between Iran and Iraq; and to free Afghanistan from
the yoke of a foreign invader so that it may take its rightful place in
the Islamic Ummah. In my view, Egypt's readmission into the OIC is as
timely as it is beneficial. I am convinced that Egypt can contribute much
to the Organisation.

10. Finally, may I take this opportunity to wish Your Excellency, and
Madam, and the people of Egypt continued good health, prosperity and
happiness.

Thank you.