Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	AMMAN, JORDAN 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	01/10/94 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE DINNER HOSTED BY THE PRIME 
			MINISTER OF THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM 
			OF JORDAN HIS EXCELLENCY DR. ABDUL 
			SALAM MAJA LI 


 
  Thank you very  much for your kind remarks and  the  warm
welcome which  you  and  the  Government  of  the  Hashemite
Kingdom  of Jordan have extended to me,  my wife and members
of my delegation.   I  am  delighted to be in your beautiful
country which is well known for its  rich  Islamic  heritage
and whose history has a strong link with our Prophet  s.a.w.
I look forward to enjoying the  charm  and  beauty  of  your
country during the rest of my stay here.
2.   My visit though  a brief one  is to  touch  base  again
with Your Excellency  following  our informal discussions in
Kuala Lumpur last December and explore how we  can  build on
the close  rapport  and brotherly  ties  which  have  always
existed between our two countries.  I am happy to note  that
our ties have grown over the years.  We are  appreciative of
Jordan in providing places for some 1,200  of  our  students
in its educational institutions.  In fact, Jordan has become
an increasingly popular centre of learning in  Western  Asia
for Malaysian students.   I believe you share with  me  that
more could be done  to  enhance  our  bilateral  cooperation
particularly  our  trade  and  economic  links.   During our
discussion last December and in  subsequent  communications,
we  agreed  that  more  efforts should be undertaken by both
sides to tap the full potentials of trade and other economic
opportunities between our two countries.
3.   It is with this objective in view that I have  included
a group of Malaysian corporate and business personalities in
my   delegation.    Their  presence  today  acknowledge  the
important role the private sector can play in  complementing
the  efforts  of  the  two  governments  to expand bilateral
economic cooperation between Malaysia  and  Jordan.    I  am
confident that through the programme arranged for them, they
would  be  able  to  focus  on  the opportunities for trade,
investment  and  tourism  that  exist  in  and  between  our
countries.
4.     The Muslim world today suffers from various maladies.
They are weak and oppressed and we  have  the  emergence  of
numerous  sects  and  creeds,  some of which plainly deviate
from the true teachings of Islam.  In Malaysia today, we  do
not  have  problems  relating  to  extremism  but we do have
groups who are deviationist in their  approach.    One  such
group  which was recently banned by the Malaysian Government
is the Al-Arqam.  The Government's decision  to  outlaw  the
Al-Arqam  movement  is because of its deviationist teachings
which are glaringly against the very fundamentals of  Islam.
While  we  encourage  missionary work, we cannot allow wrong
teachings  to  be  spread  and  to   confuse   Muslims   and
Non-Muslims  alike.    Such  teachings  will lead to schisms
among Muslims which will  be  detrimental  to  their  unity.
They are already split enough as it is.
5.      Malaysia  has  been following with keen interest the
recent developments in the West  Asian  region  and  we  are
indeed encouraged by the series of historic breakthroughs in
the  peace  process.   With the establishment of Palestinian
autonomy in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as well as  the
Jordan-Israeli declaration on the end of hostilities, I hope
the stage will be set for a full reconciliation in West Asia
through  the  achievement  of a just and comprehensive peace
between the Arab States, the Palestinians and  Israel.    In
this  context,  I  wish  to  urge  Israel to demonstrate its
sincerity  and   goodwill   in   resolving   the   remaining
outstanding issues, particularly its continued occupation of
the  Arab  territories and the rightful status of Jerusalem.
For the momentum of the peace process to be  maintained,  it
is important that Israel matches its words with deeds.
6.     The peace accord is a solid step in a region battered
by  conflicts  for  more  than  half   a   century.      The
international  community  has  a  responsibility  to make it
succeed.   I hope  there  will  be  extensive  international
participation  in  the  social and economic redevelopment of
the  territories  that  have  languished   on   account   of
international  neglect.    The  international community must
assist materially and morally in the implementation  of  the
accord.  I also wish to appeal to countries in West Asia and
others  which have supported the Palestinian cause to assist
the Palestinian leadership in meeting its new challenges  of
reconstruction and development.
7.      May  I  take  this  opportunity to thank you and the
Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan once again for
the  kind  hospitality  and  friendliness  that  have   been
accorded to me, my wife and my delegation since our arrival.
I  look  forward  to  continuing our discussions tomorrow on
ways by which we can expand our bilateral cooperation.
8.   Before concluding, may I offer in return a toast to the
continued good health of His Majesty King Hussein and to the
strengthening of close ties of  friendship  and  cooperation
between our two countries.