PPP' PRI.. E INISTER'S TOUR OF SOUTH-EAST ASIA
Speech by the Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Holt
at 1:-1alaysian State Dinner, Kuala Lumpur 27TH APRIL, 1966
Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers, Excellencies, gentlemen.
I am delighted to pay my first official visit to Malaysia
as the Prime Minister of Australia.
I am, as you may be aware, no stranger to the charm of
your country and the warmth of your hospitality.
My last visit was in September, 1964, when Commonwealth
Finance Ministers rc here.
Even in the limited time available for observation since
my arrival this morning it is readily seen that M'alaysia has
continued its solid progress and development.
My colleagues and I have greatly appreciated the
opportunity you provided to us to hold discussions today with
yourself and members of the Cabinet.
This has given us a body of useful knowledge and a
valuable insight into the policies you are pursuing.
My colleagues and I appreciated the privilege we were
given today of an audience with His Majesty the Yang Di-Pertuan
Agong. You Sir, and many of your fellow Ministers and your
senior officials have greeted me as old friends.
There is in our consultations and exchanges an intimacy
and an underlying mutual respect which has aeveloped over many
years of close co-operation.
This fueling of close friendship gives an aaaed depth
and value to the continuous interchange between our two countries
in so many fields.
M1alaysia has overcome many difficulties in recent
years. The successful way in which you have met and overcome
the challenges that have arisen is a clear indication of the
inherent strength and resilience of your multiracial community.
Hand in hand with the effort to preserve your sccurity,
you have made rapid advancement in the economic and social fields.
It was good to learn from you personally today, Tun
Razak, of your Government's rural development programme.
This importpnt activity clearly owes much to you for its
inspiration and its effective and purposeful execution.
The co-operation between our two ccuntrics is now a
matter of record and history having developed ovr a period of time
in many areas affecting the national life of both of us.
We are joined along with other Commonwealth countries
in military arrangements for defence and security.
The relationship between the Armed Forces of our two
countries is a close one.
Our two countries share a determination to preserve
national independence, stability and freedom
; e are glad to assist you with technical assistance and
to have your young men and women at our universities and technical
institutions in substantial numbers.
Our trade expands steadily and thure is a growing
Australian investment here.
It is a refreshing experience to visit Kuala Lumpur with
its individuality, its atmosphere of modern progress and colourful
growth. For Australians, develcpment-minded as we arc, this is
a stimulating atmosphere.
We feel very much at hone too, in your democratic
environment and we admire the flexibility of outlook and the
political wisdom which , alaysian leaders bring to the country's
complex national affairs.