Message from H.E. Dato' Dali M. Hashim,
Message from H.E. Dato' Dali M. Hashim,
Malaysian Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia
Today, August 31, 1994 Malaysia celebrates her 37th
independence anniversary. On this very joyful day, I would like
to warmly congratulate all the people of Malaysia wherever they
are, including those staying in the Republic of Indonesia.
In this opportunity, let me congratulate the government and
the people of the Republic of Indonesia who commemorated the 49th
independence anniversary on August 17, 1994.
Malaysia is a country with various races, namely the Malays
and other indigenous ethnic groups who are collectively called
the "Bumiputra", the Chinese and Indian descents, and other non-
indigenous ethnic groups who are collectively called the "non-
Bumiputra". The total population currently is about 18 million.
The main struggles of Malaysia since her independence on
August 31, 1957, are to fight against poverty, to distribute the
country's wealth evenly and properly to the people of different
races and ethnic groups, and to improve the quality of life of
the community in general.
Please note that what I mean by poverty here is only in
relative proportion, not poverty to the stage of starvation.
A policy called Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB, New Economic Policy)
played a key role in attaining the three targets. The deadline of
this policy was 1990.
Today we are very pleased, because the relative poverty rate
has been drastically decreased. Recent statistics show that
during the implementation of the DEB the incidence rate of
poverty had declined from 52.4 percent in 1970 to only 17 percent
in 1990. And it is still going down drastically until today.
Our success in distributing the country's economic wealth
among the people of various ethnic groups in Malaysia is obvious
from the participation of the Bumiputra in economic activities
which previously they rarely participated in or only in a very
small scale. Their participation in the manufacturing sector for
instance, increased by 50.3 percent from 1970 to 1990.
The success of the DEB in improving the quality of life of the
people can also be seen from the increased standards of living.
By the end of the DEB, the lowest household income in Malaysia
had increased drastically to the US$151 - US$168 range from the
1970 range of only US$27 - US$30.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's economy has been growing consistently
high despite global recession in the mid-1980s. Last year the
economic growth rate was 8.5 percent, and it was the sixth
consecutive year of high growth.
Malaysia is currently implementing the Dasar Pembangunan
Nasional (DPN, National Development Policy), to replace the
previous DEB. With similar objectives, the new DPN is expected to
promote Malaysia into the rank of advanced countries not later
than the year 2020, under the concept called "Wawasan 2020"
("Horizon 2020").
External relations
Malaysia plays an active role in its external relations. Under
the leadership of the Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir
Mohamad, emphasis is put on the economic aspect of the external
relations framework.
Based on the current high economic performance, Malaysia keeps
on striving for her external relations aspirations with
confidence. In addition to the intentions to build good rapports
with all countries in the world, opposing injustice and multiple
standards applied within the world system nowadays, also
constitutes her endeavor.
ASEAN, however, is the priority in Malaysia's external
relations. It is substantiated with her active participation in
the regional grouping.
Bilateral relations
The Republic of Indonesia is clearly an important country in
the external relations of Malaysia.
The bilateral relations have been quite extensive, from the
leaders of both countries to the high ranking officials and
consequently to the various agencies of both governments, as well
as between their people. There has been a mechanism to hold
annual summit meetings between leaders of both countries. In
addition, meetings between them are also held whenever and
wherever the opportunity allows, either in Malaysia or in
Indonesia, or in between conference sessions or other occasions
overseas.
The ministers of both countries frequently hold meetings,
either in Malaysia or Indonesia or anywhere else when opportunity
arises. So do government agencies of both countries. The high
frequency of visits between people of the two countries
contributes as well to the bilateral relations.
The close and good relations between the two countries have
been established by virtue of mutual understanding, including the
desire to settle all problems arising between them amicably in
the spirit of neighboring countries within ASEAN.
Obviously a strong foundation has been laid for the relations
of both countries enabling a closer bilateral relations in the
future, insya Allah.