Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	SRI PERDANA 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	05/04/85 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE OFFICIAL DINNER IN HONOUR OF 
			THE RT.HONOURABLE MARGARET THATCHER 
			PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED 
			KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN & 
			NORTHERN IRELAND 




Madame Prime Minister; Mr. Denis Thatcher; Distinguished Members of the
British Delegation; Excellencies; 

Ladies and Gentlemen.

I have much pleasure in once again welcoming you to Malaysia. I hope you
will find your stay here fruitful and enjoyable. You will certainly find a
number of things in Malaysia which are familiar to you even though you
have never been here before. That is because of our past association. We
also have historical associations with the Portuguese, the Dutch, the
Arabs, the Indians, the Chinese and others. They too have left evidence of
their presence here.

2. Malaysians do not deny history. Indeed we have taken pains to preserve
the relics of history. In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, for example, we have
preserved that typically English scene consisting of a cricket ground, a
club (in mock Tudor) and a church.

3. We preserve all these not because of our sentimentality. The world is
now not very much moved by sentiments. We preserve them as reminders of
our past, so that Malaysians will not forget that they were once colonised
by various European powers. If they do not wish to be colonised again, in
whatever form, they must learn to manage their affairs better.

4. Although our past has been linked with many countries in the East and
the West, it is with Britain that the association is longest. Britain gave
us a Malaysian identity where once there was identification only with the
little states where we lived. Britain also inspired our system of
Government and left the rudiments of an administration which we have built
up with great enthusiasm, although perhaps un wisely.

5. I can go on listing British contributions to Malaysia in various fields
but I think what I have said will suffice to indicate the strong links
between Malaysia and your country. 

Madame Prime Minister, 

6. Malaysians are by nature sentimental, and they value friendship and
common history even though some episodes may not be palatable to them. But
almost 28 years of independence has also taught Malaysians a great
deal. The lesson that they have been forced to take to heart is that the
world really cares very little for sentiments. Over and over again this
lesson has been hammered into our heads. Indeed even now we are being
taught that sentiments, friend ship, past associations and the rest have
very little to do with the relationship between nations or groups of
nation. In other words we live in a pragmatic and rather calculating world
and Malaysians, like everyone else, must appreciate and apply pragmatism
if they are to prosper or, at least, to survive.

7. Malaysia became a member of the Commonwealth on achieving
independence. The word Commonwealth implies a certain sharing of wealth
between members. We took it quite literally at first. But we have since
found out that the Common wealth has nothing to do with wealth commonly
owned. If any member wants anything he has to pay for it, one way or an
other. If non-members are prepared to pay more, then they have
priority. The fact that the poor cannot pay as much, has nothing
whatsoever to do with the wealth available in the Commonwealth.

8. It is because of this that Malaysia has relegated the Commonwealth to
fourth place in order of priority in our foreign relations. We appreciate
the ambience created by the knowledge of a common language. We do feel
comfortable in surroundings which are often familiar. But beyond that
there is really very little.

9. I am not saying this as an appeal to resuscitate the Commonwealth and
its ideal. The Commonwealth as originally conceived is a creature of the
past. We will, however, continue our membership if there is no
objection. But let us not pretend tha there will be a sharing of our
common wealth. Each member has its own wealth or poverty, as the case may
be, and it is absolutely free to do what it likes with either.

10. These things apart, I am glad to observe that your country, Madame
Prime Minister, and mine get along very well, indeed. There are occasional
hitches and glitches, of course, but these are no more than the usual ones
found in the relationship between two sovereign independent countries. We
have the usual machinery for negotiations and Malaysia will not resurrect
past associations in order to influence the results of any negotiation.

11. Your visit here has afforded us an opportunity to know you better. As
a Malaysian conservative I have admired you from a distance. Your tenacity
and singleness of purpose are qualities that we need for ourselves
here. We are a developing country and to develop we must face many
challenges within and outside our country.

12. Learning from you we will persevere. We will not be deterred by
adverse criticisms of our industrialisation programme, or of our political
system or of our economic policies. In the final analysis it is the hard
headed executives who make the decisions, not the self-appointed
experts. We have found that despite unfavourable reports about us, there
is no dearth of foreign intrepreneurs to invest or bankers to lend. Indeed
the banks are forever asking us to borrow. There are not too many good
borrowers these days. We run a tight economy here and we intend to live
within our means. We do not want to be obliged to anyone. In the world of
today no one owes anyone a living. We do not think the world owes us a
living, underdeveloped though we are. By the same token we do not owe
anyone a living. What we do for ourselves, including the cultivation of
friends, will in the final analysis, be in the interest of our nation.

Madame Prime Minister, 

13. I note that positive efforts have been made in the last few year s to
improve trade between our two countries. I refer in particular to the
mission to Malaysia led by Lord Jellicoe, and the visits by Mr. Kenneth
Baker and Lord Bellwin. In time there should be increased trade and more
British investments in this country.

14. But in the meantime, there has been little change in Malaysia's share
of the British market for several years. In 1983 Britain ranked as the
eighth largest trading partner accounting for 3.1% of Malaysia's global
trade. Britain accounted for 2.7% of Malaysia's total exports while
Malaysia's imports from Britain constituted 3.5%. There is obviously a
need to redress this imbalance.

15. Another matter of concern to us is the question of invisible trade. In
July last year I had the occasion to address a seminar on invisible trade
organised by the British Invisible Exports Council together with the
Council on Malaysian Invisible Trade. I dwelt at length on that occasion
on the importance of invisible trade to the Malaysian economy. In the face
of rising deficits in the services account, serious and sincere efforts
must be made by bot countries so that the trade deficit should not be
worsened by the invisibles for Malaysia. We do not expect trade to be
balanced between every country but continuous and substantial imbalances
should be corrected.

16. Recently the Malaysia-British Society was inaugurated in Malaysia and
the British-Malaysia Society in Britain. These organisations formed on the
initiative of the businessmen of the two countries should contribute not
only to greater business interaction, but also to a better understanding
between Malaysians and the British. Hopefully the organisations would play
a role in overcoming the glitches and the hiccups that may occur, indeed
to prevent them.

17. In the sphere of education, I am happy to note that some British
universities have responded favourably to our scheme to lessen the number
of Malaysian students seeking places in their institutions. They are
receptive to the idea of recognising courses for the early years of
university education to be conducted in Malaysia. This way the students
will need to study for a lesser period of time in Britain, thereby
lessening the burden both to the British and Malaysian tax payers. This
cooperation by British universities is much appreciated.

Madame Prime Minister, 

18. We have had useful discussions this afternoon and clearly there is a
substantial commonality of views between our two countries. In particular,
your support and endorsement of our position on the issue of Vietnamese
occupation of Kampuchea is deeply appreciated. If Vietnam can invade,
subjugate and occupy a weak neighbour with impunity, and retain the prize
of its aggression, then the security of countries in the region will be
greatly threatened. Such actions will establish an ominous precedent, as
do the present dangerous situation along the Thai-Kampuchean border and
within the Thai territory itself. The declaration of the International
Conference on Kampuchea addresses itself comprehensively to a concrete
programme which will permit the Kampuchean people to choose their own
government. Malaysia will continue to support vigorously all efforts to
restore peace and stability in our region-a pre- requisite of which is the
recognition of the rights and aspirations of the Kampuchean people. We
look forward to your continuing support in this regard.

19. The situation in Afghanistan remains unchanged. Time and time again
the United Nations General Assembly has called for the withdrawal of the
Soviet forces, respect for Afghanistan's right of self-determination,
restoration of Afghan independence and non-alignment and the return of the
Afghan refugees to their homeland in safety and honour. Malaysia has
firmly endorsed successive UN resolutions for a negotiated settlement in
Afghanistan and will continue to do so. As in Kampuchea, we cannot accept
the invasion of a weak neighbour in order to install a puppet regime in
Afghanistan.

20. In West Asia the intransigence and increasing brutality of Israel is a
cause of much concern to us. Despite the repeated killing of innocent
people, and recently of two newsmen, by Israeli soldiers, the Palestinians
are still being pictured as the villains of the piece. It is this biased
view of the West Asia situation that had made it an intractable
problem. The West needs to understand that the Palestinian problem is not
of their own making. It was not their choice to be made refugees over and
over again. It was because their plight was ignored that they were forced
to take to arms and violence. The West should understand that justice and
fair play would do more for peace than the desire to atone for past
anti-semitism.

21. We are seeing today an unprecedented arms race involving nuclear
weapons. Enormous sums of money and resources are channelled towards the
development and production of horror weapons. Having polluted the land and
the sea, we see now an attempt to pollute outer space even before we have
learned to use it for the progress of mankind. Against this backdrop, we
are somewhat relieved that the strategic arms reduction talks are underway
once again in Geneva.

Madame Prime Minister, 

22. Another area of concern to the Malaysian Government is the question of
the future of Antarctica. It is our view that all Mankind has a legitimate
interest in that continent. It is manifestly unjust that a small group of
countries have arrogated to themselves the management and exploitation of
that continent. Malaysia is ready to cooperate with the member states of
the ATCP with a view to finding an acceptable manner in which all nations
may join hands in the peaceful administration of Artarctica and in keeping
it as a preserve for the good of one and all.

Madame Prime Minister, 

23. Once again I would like to express our pleasure at having you and your
delegation with us and I trust when you return home you will bring with
you fond memories of Malaysia and the friendliness of the Malaysian people
as well as their readiness to come to terms with the realities of modern
diplomacy.

24. Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

may I invite you to rise and join me in a toast to the good health of the
Right Honourable Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Mr. Denis Thatcher and to the
close and friendly relations between our two countries.