Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	IN WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	17/11/92 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE DINNER HOSTED BY THE PRESIDENT 
			OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA HIS 
			EXCELLENCY DR SAM NUJOMA 




 Your Excellency Dr Sam Nujoma,
President of the Republic of Namibia,
Madame Nujoma
Excellencies;
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
    Let  me  first of all thank you, Mr President, for your
kind words of welcome and the generous tribute paid  to  the
government  and  the  people of Malaysia.  My wife and I and
members of my delegation are indeed delighted to be here  in
this  beautiful  city of Windhoek, on our first visit to the
Republic of Namibia.  I would like to  thank  you  for  your
kind  invitation to visit your country and for the excellent
arrangements made for this visit.  That you are  willing  to
receive us at this time while you are in the midst of a cam-
paign  for your local and regional elections bears testimony
to the importance you attach to our bilateral relations  and
to the depth of your feelings of goodwill and friendship for
Malaysia and its people.
2.   It was only about two months ago that we had the privi-
lege  and  honour  of receiving you in Malaysia.  During the
visit we had a wide-ranging discussion on issues  of  common
interest,  in  particular  on ways and means of bringing our
two countries closer together through cooperative endeavours
for the mutual benefit of our peoples.  We agreed to encour-
age trade and investment and to cooperate in manpower devel-
opment.   My visit to your  country  provides  me  with  the
opportunity  of  strengthening  that spirit of mutual under-
standing, to reaffirm  Malaysia's  commitment  to  cooperate
with  Namibia  and  to  further strengthen our relations.  I
look forward in the next few days not only to savour the de-
lights of the many touristic attractions of your country but
also to looking at close range the  many  opportunities  for
trade and investment in your country as well as the areas in
which Malaysia could cooperate towards meeting Namibia's de-
velopment needs.
3.   Our  two  countries have already begun discussions on a
number of agreements that would provide the necessary frame-
work for enhanced cooperation.  The signing of the Economic,
Scientific and Technical Cooperation Agreement at the end of
my current visit to Namibia and other agreements such as the
Trade Agreement and the Visa Abolition Agreement in the  fu-
ture  would  give  impetus to our mutual desire to intensify
relations between our two countries.  While these agreements
would facilitate such cooperation, the success  of  whatever
economic  ventures  agreed to would be determined by the re-
spective business sectors and how best they pursue  the  op-
portunities presented to them.
Mr. President,
4.   It is for this reason that I have brought along with me
a  number of prominent Malaysian businessmen.  They would be
meeting their counterparts within the next few days.   Their
meetings and discussions should help expand existing cooper-
ation  and  identify  new areas for our mutual benefit.  In-
deed, tremendous possibilities  exist  for  cooperation  and
joint  ventures in areas such as tourism, construction, min-
ing and fishing.  I would like to assure you  that  Malaysia
will  do what it can to facilitate trade and ensure business
cooperation with Namibia.  Given our commitment to strength-
ening South-South Cooperation, I am confident that together,
the government and the private sectors  of  both  countries,
would,  before  long,  be able to construct a web of new re-
lations and understanding across many sectors.  Toward  this
end,  there  should  be more frequent exchanges of visits by
leaders of both countries and the business community  so  as
to be better acquainted with one another.
Mr. President,
5.   We have been most impressed by the policies of the gov-
ernment of Namibia under your wise leadership since your in-
dependence  on  21  March  1990.    You  have  been  able to
transform your  country,  whose  society  was  once  divided
within itself, into a nation where all Namibians are able to
live  and  work together in harmony and unity, regardless of
their cultural and ethnic differences.  We applaud  the  vi-
sion  and statesmanship of the leaders of Namibia for having
had the courage and magnanimity to embrace a policy  of  re-
conciliation.   The wisdom of your decision is clear for all
the world to see, contrasting sharply with the tragic events
that unfold in those countries blighted by the curse of eth-
nic chauvinism.  It is an undeniable truth that for multira-
cial countries like ours, if they are  to  enjoy  peace  and
prosperity,  their policies must be guided by pragmatism and
the just  consideration  of  competing  demands  of  various
groups,  and  a willingness to compromise and to make sacri-
fices for the larger interest of the nation.
Mr. President,
6.   Namibians also have every reason to be proud  of  their
democratic  credentials.   We have seen that since independ-
ence your democratic system  of  government  has  flourished
with much vigour and vitality, proving to those who had cast
doubts  on your commitment to multiparty democracy that they
were thoroughly mistaken.  The credit must go to the leaders
and the people of Namibia.  The world will again be watching
with interest on how you go about your  forthcoming  nation-
wide  elections for your local and regional councils.  I be-
lieve this election will be the first to be conducted  since
independence  and without the involvement of the UN or other
international observers.  We have no doubt, whatsoever, that
you will come out with flying colours in the conduct of  the
elections.
7.   I  have  been impressed with the current efforts under-
taken by your government in the development of your country.
Judging from the prudent policies of your  government  I  am
confident  that  the  government  of the Republic of Namibia
will be able to successfully harness its human  and  natural
resources  in its endeavour to further enhance the country's
prosperity.  Malaysia stands ready to cooperate and help  in
our  small  way in these efforts and participate in areas in
which Malaysia could play an effective role for  our  mutual
benefit.
Mr. President,
8.   As  I  have  often  reiterated, changes in the interna-
tional, political and economic scenes leave developing coun-
tries,  such  as  ours,  in  a  vulnerable  position.    Our
economies are heavily dependent upon external trade.  There-
fore  the existence of a free and open global trading system
is a prerequisite for our economic well-being.  Although un-
der the GATT we have managed  to  remove  most  tariffs  the
tendency  for  certain countries to introduce new non-tariff
barriers, is worrisome.  Such protectionism  will  seriously
impede  the  development  of  a world trading system that is
both free and fair.
9.   I am on my way to the G-15 Summit Meeting to be held in
Dakar, Senegal.  It is my fervent hope that  the  Summit  of
the  Group  of  15 countries of the South would come up with
new and concrete ideas in terms of increased trade,  invest-
ment  and  technological  cooperation among countries of the
South.  A greater reliance on South-South Trade and  Cooper-
ation would ease some of the problems faced by the countries
of the South.
Mr President,
10.  We  are  happy  to  note  the  winds of change sweeping
Africa today.  Many countries in Africa are  now  undergoing
positive  reforms.    These  augur  well  for the region and
Africa as a whole as these countries can now settle down  to
tackling  issues  of  development and economic upliftment of
their people.
11.  Sadly, however the lack of  progress  in  South  Africa
with  regard  to the struggle of the black majority in their
quest for majority rule in their own  country  stands  as  a
stark  contrast  to the rays of hope emanating from the rest
of Africa.  The CODESA talks which was abruptly halted  fol-
lowing  the Boipatong massacre remain suspended.  The longer
the delay in the establishment of a  democratically  elected
government  in  South  Africa, the longer it will be for the
country to find its rightful place and re-assert its role in
the international community of nations.  It is in the inter-
est of all parties in South Africa  to  cooperate  and  work
closely  together  to  revive  the negotiating process under
CODESA.  It will enable the early  creation  of  an  interim
mechanism  for  the  eventual establishment of a democratic,
non-racial and united South Africa.
Mr. President,
12.  I take this opportunity once more, to express our  sin-
cere  appreciation  and  gratitude for your kind hospitality
and for receiving us with such warmth and  friendship.    We
certainly look forward to the opportunity of meeting a cross
section  of the people of Namibia and take back with us many
pleasant memories of our visit to Namibia.
     Thank you.