More Troops Later Would Help Malaysia

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31340, 10 April 1967, Page 1

More Troops Later Would Help Malaysia

"If the New Zealand Government could send more troops to Malaysia later I think that it would help us,” said the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia (Tun Abdul Razak) when he arrived at Harewood Airport yesterday afternoon. He is also Minister of Defence.

Malaysia, was not a staging post for Vietnam, he said. “We allow three countries —New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom—to station troops in Malaysia as part of the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve. “It Is the right of each of these countries to change the character of its troops, or to withdraw troops after consultation with us. What they wish to do with their troops after taking them away from our territory is a matter entirely for them.” Malaysia did not have any internal threat at the moment.

Generally, it could manage on its own. The Commonwealth Strategic Reserve was stationed in Malaysia in case of threat from outside. It was still needed. “There are still Communist nations in Asia, so there is still a need,” said Tun Razak. There were Communists in Vietnam, Thailand and in Malaysia.: “Greater Threat” “The greatest threat is from the Peking Government, which has been encouraging and assisting the united front in various countries." Tun Razak is visiting New Zealand on a good will mission with no special objectives. New Zealand and Malaysia had many friendly ties and New Zealand had helped in many ways—with education, defence and economically.

Tun Razak said that to go ahead with the Malaysian development programme planned for the next five years, about 2000 million Malay dollars were need in external aid. “We would like the aid coming more rapidly.” He said that Malaysia was endeavouring to improve trade relations with Russia to sell its rubber and other raw materials. Further dealings with Russia in trade could lead eventually to diplomatic relations.

Asked if he had heard the good news that the New Zealand Minister of Defence (Mr Thomson) in Kuala Lumpur, had said Mr Holyoake could

have for him, Tun Razak said no. “I am looking forward to hearing the good news when I see your Prime Minister on Tuesday,” he said. Tun Razak said that defence and development were the two fields in which New Zealand could help Malaysia best. But he had not come here to ask for aid. “Your Government knows our position and if your Prime Minister is kind enough to give us aid, I’d be very, very glad.” He said that Malaysia would like to sell more rubber and timber to New Zealand.

One of Malaysia’s difficulties was that with the ending of confrontation and the withdrawal of Commonwealth troops from Malaysia, his country had to fill the gap.

“We can’t reduce our defence expenditure,” said Tun Razak. “We have to continue our armed forces. At the same time we have to continue the tempo of development. This is why we are experiencing financial difficulties.” Tun Razak said that he would meet the Ombudsman (Sir Guy Powles) in New Zealand. He would like to have talks with him before making any statement about the possibility of Malaysia having an ombudsman. Language Act

Asked if the recent Language Act, which makes Malay the official language of Malaysia on September 1, was a

“It indeed should be a unifying factor,” he said. “We guaranteed, under the constitution, to use Chinese and other languages, other than for official purposes. The Act is merely to carry out the constitution. We allow the continuous use of English and languages other than the official language.”

step to unifying the races, or a threat to the Chinese to keep them out of top jobs, Tun Razak laughed loudly.