MESSAGE FROM THE HIGH COMMISSIONER

Press, 31 August 1977, Page 15

MESSAGE FROM THE HIGH COMMISSIONER

Today as Malaysia celebrates its 20th Year of Independence, it gives me great pleasure to express Our gratitude to all our friends in New Zealand for their warm wishes and support in our efforts towards building a better future.

We look back with pride ■nd satisfaction over the last two decades, and confidently begin another year under the banner “Dua Puluh Tahun Bersatu Maju” (20 Years of Unity and Progress) which not only articulates our determination to eradicate poverty and restructure our society under the Third Malaysia Plan but also reflects our policy of fostering regionalism, regional cooperation and friendship, and our hopes for the creation of a new international order based on

peace and justice. This policy is fundamental to our membership of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, (A.S.E.A.N.), which decided at its recent summit meeting in our capital city Kuala Lumpur to intensify further and expand co-operation with New Zealand. The post-summit meeting with your Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon (along with the Prime Ministers of Australia and Japan) was a significant landmark in the development of regional links — it was the first time that A.S.E.A.N. heads of Government had met nonA.S.E.A.N. heads of Government. The presence of your Prime Minister L< our country can thus be seen as a manifestation of the importance New Zealand attatches to the promotion of mutually beneficial relations with A.S.E.A.N. countries. It is also a further recognition of A.S.E.A.N. viability as a force for the promotion of the economic, social and cultural development of the region.

Malaysia is grateful for Mr Muldoon’s expression of willingness to move further to open the way for imports from the countries of our region, and we expect even more frequent visits of New Zealand businessmen to Malaysia and Malaysian businessmen to your country as trade between our countries continues to grow. Relations between New

Zealand and Malaysia, have? traditionally been close and!, cordial. New Zealand helped jl to contain the Communist ■ insurgency during the Emer-p gency years of the 19505. p This relationship continues- 1 through the training fac-j 1 ilities you have offered top our armed forces personnel'p and the joint military exer- ’ cises both in New Zealand 1 and Malaysia. Over the last years, manyp thousands of Malaysian stu- p dents have studied at New'

Zealand schools and univer-i sities. There have also been special training schemes, h assistance from New Zealand grasslands and animat husbandry experts, and now co-operation in joint business ventures in Malaysia. We are encouraged that a’ growing number of New) Zealand industries are in-|' vesting capital and expertise 1 in Malaysia, and we welcome the benefits that 1 accrue from projects which apply New Zealand experience and skills to the development of our country. ; Attracting foreign in- i vestment is fundamental to i

our concept of industrial development, as is the introduction to our economy of new expertise, skills, technology and markets. We therefore welcome joint-venture projects with New Zealand companies which are export-orientated, labour intensive, agro and resources based, and highI technology orientated, and ■which readily integrate with our existing industries. Such ventures are assisted by Government’s incentives and industries which establish in i Malaysia receive every I assistance. Malaysia has long been

known as the world’s big-j gest producer and exporter of rubber and tin, but diversification programmes have also made us the world’s biggest exporter of palm oil, tropical hardwoods and pepper, and the increase of offshore oil finds has made petroleum the country’s second largest export commodity next to rubber. Our manufacturing sector has become the fastest-grow-ing in recent years although the agricultural sector still employs the most people and brings in the greatest export receipts. We are rich, too, in other natural re-

sources. But the threat of Com munist terrorism remain. Through subversion and destruction, militant communists hope to destroy the unity of our people and our way df life, and to hamper our national efforts to establish a free, just and prosperous society. Recognising this danger, the Third Malaysia Plan (1976-80) the blueprint for boasting employment opportunities, reducing pcrverty and strengthening national secure ity and restructuring society is already having noticeable effects. It is the biggest investment programme ever to be undertaken in Malaysia National development is booming, affluence is increasing and inflation has been brought down to and is being held at about 3 per cent. The Outlook continues to be optimistic and activity in all major sectors of the economy is poised for further advance as a result of the Government’s economic policy Of stimulation. Through strong export growth, Malaysia last year made a rapid recovery from the recession and set new records in several major areas of activity. Gross national product in nominal terms rose by 24.1 per cent over the previous years, which was an increase by 11.3 per cent in real terms (compared with the growth of 2.2 per cent in 1975 and higher than the average of 7.1 per cent during the Second Malaysia Plan period 1971-1975). Our cultures are as mixed as our scenery and we are a land richly endowed to lure not only the tourist but also the businessman and industrialist. We extend a cordial invitation to all New Zealanders to come and see for themselves. For us in Malaysia the future is one of opportunity and challenge. We plan to proceed with our bold strategy for a social restructuring that promotes national integration in our multi-racial nation of more than 12 million people. Sd as we celebrate our twentieth anniversary of [independence this year we are confident that our progress in unity will accelerate the restructuring of our society towards national integration for the attainment of a peaceful and just societv.