PM Transcripts

' 09 1~ a, VISIT TO SOUTH EAST ASIA 1968
MALAYSIA
ARRIVAL STATEMENT MADE BY THE PRIME MINISTER,
MR. JOHN GORTON 11 JUNE 1968
I am glad to have this opportunity to visit Malaysia soon after
taking office as Prime Minister of Australia. Our two countries have long
been in warm and friendly association. I look forward with pleasure to once
again meeting'and talking with your revered Prime Minister and his colleagues,
so many of whom are well known to us in Australia.
It is a pleasant experience to fly into K,, uala Lumpur and see
this beautiful and well laid out city and the attractive, prosperous countryside
which surrounds it. Over the years, peaceful suburbs and rural development
have transformed areas which were once the scenes of bitter conflict. The
peace and harmony in Malaysia is the more noticeable because I have recently
been in South Vietnam. a country and people still suffering the ravages of
war. Yet one can take heart from what Malaysia has succeeded in
doing. For Malaysia too has had its trial by fire. You were ableto overcome
the challenge of insurrection, long continued, and having overcome go on to
develop a progressive nation. This must encourage all small countries subject
to aggression or externally-inspired subversion.
Malaysia is a living example of what can be achieved in the
Asian region by a Government dedicated to national development and to
expanding opportunities for its peoples. We in Australia admire the increasing
part that Malaysia is playing in regional affairs, both in its direct contacts
with neighbouring countries and through its membership of the regional
organisations and groupings that are being established to promote the sense
of community and the common purpose of the region. And we look to close
co-operation with Malaysia in these endeavours.
These are among the matters I shall be discussing during my
stay in Kuala Lumpur. I hope, too, to give your Government an account of my
visit to Vietnam. Although my visit is not directly connected with the Five-
Power talks, I shall hope to hear Malaysian views on the progress of the talks.
While in Malaysia, I will visit Australian forces at Terendak and at Butterworth.