Welcome to Mahathir bin MohamadPrime Minister of the Federation of Malaysia and to Datin Mahathir.
They are here on a private family visit and I am delighted that they were able to make time to have dinner this evening with so many friends of Malaysia.
The other day I was shown an article on Anglo/Malaysian relations in the New Straits Times of Kuala Lumpur. It was full of good sense. I was particularly struck by the reference to the United Kingdom and Malaysia as two sovereign, independent, nationalistic and unashamedly [end p1] patriotic peoples. We would accept that description and I suspect that Dr. Mahathir would too.
We have much else in common. In particular, we both firmly believe in parliamentary democracy as the best guarantee both of freedom and of stability in a dangerous world. We are full of admiration for the stand taken by Malaysia and its partners in ASEAN against those who wish to spread the evils of totalitarianism. [end p2]
Dr. Mahathir is determined to see his country fulfil its very considerable potential. He has worked very hard since he came to office in July, 1981 to achieve that goal. He is succeeding.
I believe one of the Prime Minister's first steps was to introduce a requirement that Civil Servants should clock in on their arrival for work in the morning. Interesting. And after all, why stop at Civil Servants? [end p3]
That article in the New Straits Times was right in suggesting that Malaysia and the United Kingdom have much in common. But the shared qualities in any friendship cannot guarantee harmony and understanding. Perhaps we in the United Kingdom have been a little forgetful over the years of the full role that we can play in our friendship with Malaysia. I and my Ministerial colleagues are determined to put that right. We want a relationship of genuine equality, based on today's realities. [end p4]
That is why we are so glad to receive the Prime Minister here tonight. I much look forward to further meetings, not least the opportunities we shall have at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in India later this year.