Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	PARLIAMENT HOUSE, KUALA LUMPUR 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	02/02/82 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE OPENING OF THE FOURTH GENERAL 
			ASSEMBLY OF THE ASEAN INTER-
			PARLIAMENTARY ORGANISATION (AIPO)     




Honourable Tan Sri Dato' (Dr.) Syed Nasir Ismail, President of AIPO; 
Honourable Tan Sri Ismail Khan, President of the Dewan Negara; 
Distinguished Heads of Delegations; 
Honourable Ministers and Delegates; 
Your Excellencies; 
Distinguished Observers; 
Ladies and Gentlemen.

First of all, let me wish a warm "selamat datang" to the distinguished
Delegates and observers of this Assembly.

We are indeed very happy to have this privilege of hosting the Fourth
General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation or
AIPO. This is the second time that Malaysia is hosting a Conference of
ASEAN Parliamentarians, the first being the Second ASEAN Parliamentary
Conference held in Kuala Lumpur in August, 1975.

2. I am happy to know that the Fourth Working Committee Meeting of AIPO
held in Kuantan in August last year was very successful and that the
Meeting agreed to place before your General Assembly an Agenda comprising
a wide range of subjects, covering a review of the regional and
international political situations, and the vital matter of cooperation
among the ASEAN countries in the economic, cultural and other
fields. Organisational matters relating to AIPO are also before you for
consideration and approval.

I am particularly happy to know that one of the items that you are going
to consider is the Common Legislative Programme on Narcotics, Drug Abuse
and Rehabilitation. This indeed points to the way in which ASEAN
Legislators can cooperate for the benefit of all their peoples.

3. I also note with great interest that one other subject that you are
going to discuss is the ASEAN Trade Expansion Scheme. Now, trade is a very
important matter for all of us in ASEAN and indeed Ministerial and
Official Committees have been studying this subject for a number of years,
and working out ways and means for liberalising and expanding the flow of
trade among ourselves in ASEAN. What is even more important is that the
ASEAN countries have been able to put up a common front in the face of the
protectionism practised by the developed countries.

4. Despite the various efforts made by us to secure fair terms of trade,
we have, we must admit, largely been unsuccessful. In this connection, the
depressed prices obtainable for our primary commodities are a case in
point.

Although the cost of production of natural rubber and tin have gone up
tremendously in recent years, their prices in the international market do
not reflect such cost increases.

The prevailing low rubber price has adversely affected hundreds of
thousands of the poor smallholders in Malaysia; as is the case with the
other ASEAN countries. People who speak of free trade and opposition to
monopolies have gone to the extent of disrupting the market by sales from
stockpiles and so on. The aspirations of the peoples and Governments of
our countries for a New International Economic Order have not only been
ignored but their terms of trade continue to be made more inequitable.

5. It is here that the legislators' support of the ASEAN stand on these
issues are of great importance. As members of your respective Parliaments
you are in an ideal position to enunciate and explain these issues not
only to your own voters and people, but also to the rest of the world.

Popular non-Governmental responses would then enhance Governmental efforts
of ASEAN countries to overcome the problem of depressed prices for our
commodities.

6. It is the Malaysian Government's view that in the long run we should
process a fair proportion of our primary commodities in our own countries
and export the finished and semi-finished products in order to gain more
in terms of value added and technology. Such a step would not merely help
to alleviate the poverty and unemployment situation of our countries, but
also make a meaningfully significant contribution to holding down the
forces of inflation generated by expensive production of these items in
the advanced countries. In these days of bulk carriers it makes economic
sense, for example, to manufacture vast quantities of rubber tyres in
Malaysia for export to consuming countries. The transport of low value raw
materials in small quantities is no longer a means of lowering the cost of
manufacture.

7. We in Southeast Asia have entered an era fraught with unprecedented
perils. It is distressing to note that the problem of Kampuchea which has
plagued us for the last few years appears to be no nearer to an equitable
solution. The intransigent attitude of certain parties is very much
regretted. It may no longer be worthwhile for us to support their position
in the United Nations.

8. In Afghanistan the tragedy persists because of the continued defiance
of the U.S.S.R. of world opinion. If Russia was opposed to the U.S. role
in Vietnam for its support of weak unpopular regimes, similarly Russia
should not prop up the regime presently installed in Kabul. The people of
Afghanistan should be allowed to settle their internal problems
themselves. This, of course, means that other powers should not interfere
either. A regime with popular support should, with the mandate of the
people, be able to rule without outside help. For us in ASEAN, the tragedy
of Afghanistan is a crucial test of the principle we believe in, i.e. no
outside power should march into the territory of a weak neighbour or
country in order to install a friendly Government. If this principle is
breached without protest by the world community then ASEAN and other small
nations will live in constant fear.

9. The ASEAN concept of ZOPFAN here in Southeast Asia is in pursuit of
this cardinal principle. As Parliamentarians you have the duty and the
stature in your respective countries and in the world and regional forums
to pursue the quest for entrenching this principle as the only basis on
which healthy and equitable international relations can be based.

10. I also understand that ASEAN Parliamentarians have been having a
dialogue with their colleagues in other countries on various matters of
cooperation for mutual advantage and that your representatives have
visited some of these countries and they in turn have visited the
Parliaments in the ASEAN countries. The presence of the distinguished
observers here in your midst at this Conference is ample testimony to the
success of your efforts in this direction.

The Malaysian Government supports these contacts between members of
various Parliaments for the promotion of greater understanding between our
peoples and for fostering cooperative endeavours for our mutual benefits.

11. I am informed that among the topics included for the discussion at
your Assembly is a Proposal to Study the Establishment of an ASEAN
Parliament, perhaps based on the model of the European Parliament. I can
only say that all important projects start as dreams in the minds of men
of vision. We may or may not see our dream materialise, but if the
objective is good and worthwhile, we should not be deterred by the
magnitude or the problems. The ASEAN Parliament may yet be a forum for the
successful coordination of our development and progress.

12. It now gives me great pleasure to declare this Assembly open and to
wish you every success in your deliberations.