Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	PARLIAMENT HOUSE, KUALA LUMPUR, 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	15/03/82 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE DINNER GIVEN IN HONOUR OF HIS 
			EXCELLENCY MR. A.A.M. VANAGT, PRIME 
			MINISTER OF THE NETHERLANDS, 




Your Excellency Prime Minister Van Agt, It is a pleasure for me to extend
once again to Your Excellency and the distinguished members of your
delegation a warm welcome to Malaysia. Your Excellency's visit which is
the first by a Prime Minister of the Netherlands is indeed an honour for
Malaysia. I am delighted at the opportunity of playing host on this
occasion and I hope that your few days stay with us will be both enjoyable
and memorable.

2. We have had the opportunity this afternoon to meet and share our
thoughts on a wide variety of subjects. I am happy that we share above all
else a common desire to see the relations between our two countries expand
to our mutual benefit and for the well-being of our peoples. I have no
doubt that your visit will further strengthen the relations and foster
greater cooperation between our two countries.

Excellency, 

3. There have been frequent consultations and close cooperation between
our two countries in the political as well as economic fields. I am
appreciative of the understanding and support which the Netherlands have
given to Malaysia on matters of great importance to us, both internally as
well as regionally and internationally. Your support for the aspirations
of the developing countries to effect structural changes to the
international economic order cannot go without special mention nor can we
forget the active role which your country has played in the North-South
dialogue. Your support for the siting of the International Natural Rubber
Association Headquarters (INRA) in Kuala Lumpur is much appreciated.

4. Malaysia has of late become disenchanted with what is said to be a free
market for commodity trading, particularly tin. We see a system already
loaded in favour of consumers being manipulated in a most unfree
market-like ways to the detriment of our economy. Due to various
manipulations on the Exchange the price of tin has reached a very low
level, necessitating intervention by the ITA, which in turn means
contribution by Malaysia to the tune of almost 100 million Malaysian
Ringgit.

5. Malaysia is therefore looking towards other arrangements for the
marketing of tin as well as regulating output in order to lessen her
dependence on tin as a revenue earner. We are urging a producers'
association, not in order to jack up prices or to hold the world to
ransom, but in order to get fair prices while continuning to stay in the
market. We hope that the Netherlands would understand this move by
Malaysia and would not stand in the way.

6. I am happy to note, Mr. Prime Minister, that the volume of trade
between Malaysia and the Netherlands has always been substantial. However,
this is not because the imports were for the Netherlands, but because you
act as the gateway to much of Europe. We do hope that actual direct trade
with the Netherlands will increase. The test that you are a strong
advocate of trade liberalisation is most heartening particularly as we see
so many developed countries turning to protectionism after years of
enjoying free access to the developing countries.

7. Malaysia welcomes foreign investments. We are happy to see increased
interest by Dutch businessmen in investment opportunities in Malaysia. I
would like to assure you that your investment is protected. We will not
nationalise or expropriate in any way. However, I would like to stress
once again that we retain the right to buy anything that is sold in the
market. If your shares or your companies are up for sale then we reserve
the right to buy if we think that it is worthwhile. There has been some
attempt to frighten investors away by saying that Malaysia might
nationalise by buying from willing sellers. We do hope that such absurd
interpretations of what goes on in the market will not be accepted by
you. We hope to see more Dutch investments in Malaysia. We know that you
are pragmatic businessmen who understand that our policy on foreign
investment is for our own good. If you happen to benefit it is your right
and we have no objection.

Excellency, 

8. Malaysia as a member of ASEAN is committed to improve the quality of
life of our peoples and to enhance their general well-being. We can attain
these goals faster if our resources are productively utilised. For this
reason we would like to see the early return of peaceful and stable
conditions in Indochina so that all of us could devote ourselves to the
pursuit of development. We have made it clear that we cannot accept
military intervention as a means of settling a zonal problem. The people
of a country must be given the right to determine the form of Government
that they want.

9. Malaysia, and ASEAN, will persevere in our efforts to seek a
comprehensive and durable political solution to the Kampuchean conflict on
the basis of the UN Resolution 36/5 and the Declaration and Resolution of
the International Conference on Kampuchea. We firmly believe that such a
solution would pave the way for the realisation of our objective of a Zone
of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality in Southeast Asia which would prevent
super-power involvement in the region and thereby ensure durable peace and
stability.

10. In this regard we appreciate your Government's concern and the fact
that you share our views on a peaceful resolution of the Kampuchean
problem.

11. I would also like to express my appreciation to your Government's
assistance in resettling the Vietnamese illegal immigrants from
Malaysia. We hope that the remaining Vietnamese illegal immgirants would
be resettled in third countries so as to relieve our burden of providing
transit facilities.

Mr. Prime Minister, 

12. The Netherlands and Malaysia share the same aspirations for a peaceful
world order. Our two countries also believe in the democratic
parliamentary system of government and in free enterprise. We believe in
upholding the principles of the United Nations Charter and strongly
advocate the peaceful settlement of international problems. Your visit
stimulates not only the common desire to enhance further our bilateral
relations but also reinforces the political will and commitment to the
search for peace for the benefit of all concerned. We have had a very
fruitful discussion this afternoon and I am happy to note that we share
identical views on many issues of regional and international importance.

13. May I now invite you all to join me in a toast to the health and
happiness of Prime Minister Andreas van Agt, for the continued progress
and prosperity of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and friendship between
our two Governments and peoples.