WELCOME REMARKS
60TH NATIONAL DAY OF MALAYSIA
RECEPTION
MERCURE HOTEL, VIENTIANE, LAO PDR
FRIDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 2017
His Excellency Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR
His Excellency Mr. Alounkeo Kittikhoun
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office of the Lao PDR
Ambassadors and Vice Ministers, Senior Officials,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Malaysians residing in the Lao PDR,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Salam 1Malaysia, Sabaidee and a very good evening,
1. At the outset, I wish a warm welcome to all our distinguished guests at the reception of the 60th National Day of Malaysia, and 51st Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the Lao PDR.
2. Our theme this year continues to be Sehati Sejiwa “One Heart One Soul” as the concept emphasises towards the spirit of nationalism and patriotism, in moving forward.
3. Over the past 51 years, Malaysia places importance to its very close and friendly relations with the Lao PDR.
4. On the bilateral front, His Excellency Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith undertook his first Official Visit to Malaysia since his appointment as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR from 16 to 18 March 2017.
5. While in Malaysia, His Excellency Saleumxay had the opportunity to visit the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. Besides training our own Diplomats, the Institute has also train more than 2000 Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme participants from the Lao PDR.
6. Malaysia also look forward for the signing of the MoU in the field of training of Diplomats between the Institute of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR and Malaysia’s Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations, hopefully, soonest possible once details been finalised.
7. The year 2017 also witnessed the Official Visit of His Excellency Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Lao PDR to Malaysia from 9 to 10 May 2017 accompanied by several Ministers including His Excellency Saluemxay Kommasith.
8. It was His Excellency Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith first Official Visit to Malaysia in his capacity as the Prime Minister of the Lao PDR since his appointment in April 2016.
9. Emphasis of the Visit has been on efforts to expand economic cooperation as well as promoting regional and international understanding on issues of mutual interest.
10. Among the highlight of the Official Visit was the Malaysia–Lao PDR Business Forum held on 9 May 2017 which was attended by more than 400 participants representing 200 companies that generated strong interest from the Malaysian business community to invest in the Lao PDR.
11. During the Official Visit of His Excellency Dr. Thongloun, the MoU on Science and Technology Cooperation was signed between Malaysia and the Lao PDR.
12. The Official Visit also concluded on a very high note when His Excellency Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith had an Audience with His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V at Istana Negara.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
13. In term of foreign investment, Malaysia is ranked as the 4th largest foreign direct investor in the Lao PDR with Malaysia’s investments valued at over 1 billion US dollars through 103 registered projects.
14. In 2016, Malaysia’s bilateral trade with the Lao PDR recorded an increase of 74.5 percent amounting to USD31 million compared to USD17.7 million in 2015. I strongly believed that our bilateral trade could be increased further in the future. Malaysian investment in the Lao PDR is also hugely assisted through the presence of three (3) Malaysian banks, namely Public Bank, Maybank and RHB Bank which have several branches in the country.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
15. The Malaysian economy maintains its positive momentum by recording a back-to-back Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 5.8 percent in the first and second quarter of 2017. The value of Malaysia GDP in the second quarter stands at USD 69 billion.
16. Malaysia’s economy continues to show positive signs with the successful launching of projects that benefited the people of Malaysia such as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT).
17. As part of its vision in moving forward, Malaysia will further improve its rail network which would serve to integrate the existing rail networks and alleviate the severe traffic congestion in the Greater Kuala Lumpur metropolitan area. Once completed, the rail network will link Kuala Lumpur with other major cities in the Klang Valley such as Kajang, Seremban and Putrajaya.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
18. Since my arrival in Vientiane, I already had the opportunity to visit several Malaysian companies that have invested in the Lao PDR. I visited Savannakhet province, a six (6) hour drive from Vientiane, in April 2017 and was briefed by a Malaysian company called Savan Pacifica Development Co. Limited., a concession holder for Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone, Savan Park (Zone C), that there are 55 license investors operating in Savan Park SEZ (Zone C) at the investment value of USD132 million. Several additional Malaysian companies reportedly also shown interest to invest in Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone after the Malaysia–Lao PDR Business Forum held on 9 May 2017.
19. With the first ever dry port in the Lao PDR operating in Savan Park, it has the potential to facilitate transportation of goods and materials linking seven (7) countries by land, namely Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and China and these services are already partly in operation.
20. As quoted in Vientiane Times yesterday, in the Savan Seno Special Economic Zone alone, some 4,163 people have been employed, of whom 4,069 are Laotians. This has certainly benefited the Lao PDR and the local community in Savannakhet province.
21. In addition, Savan-DKLS Water Supply, a Malaysian company operating in Savannakhet has successfully supply treated water to the people in Savannakhet province. The rapid economic progress in Savannakhet is further complemented with the presence of Malaysia’s Public Bank as well as Tan Chong Motors.
22. In July 2017, I took another eight (8) hour drive from Vientiane to Champasak province to visit other Malaysian company called Don Sahong Hydropower Project, involved in the construction of Hydropower Project there. I am delighted to learn that the project is progressing well and is currently over 31 percent completion. The project should be completed by December 2019 and expected to generate 260 Mega Watt of electricity upon completion.
23. Another company, Giant Consolidated Limited is also in the midst of finalising details to construct a 220 Kilo Meters double-track railway from Savannakhet to Lao Bao. I was briefed recently that documentation details of this project has almost been finalised and expected to be commence by next year and to be completed within five (5) years.
24. Energy cooperation is another vital element in the bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and the Lao PDR.
25. Malaysia hopes to purchase up to 100 Mega Watt of hydropower from Lao PDR, transmitted through Thailand by 2018. The multilateral power trade is in the initial stage of the ASEAN Power Grid initiative which is a flagship project under the ASEAN Vision 2020. The project is aimed at enhancing energy security in ASEAN through the establishment of a network of interconnections between the ASEAN member states.
26. Malaysia looks forward for the possibility of signing the Energy Purchase and Wheeling Agreement with the Lao PDR and Thailand during the 35th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting in Manila, the Philippines from 25 to 29 September 2017.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
27. At the recently concluded 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, 11 nations, comprising of 4,888 athletes, 38 sports and 404 events had vied for glory in the spirit and theme of “Rising Together”.
28. The awareness of the SEA Games had generated interest among Laotians to travel to Kuala Lumpur and had taken advantage of our direct flights by AirAsia from Vientiane to Kuala Lumpur as well as Luang Prabang to Kuala Lumpur. This has ultimately increase people-to-people connectivity between both countries and thus increase the tourism sector between both countries. Malaysia also supports Lao PDR’s initiative of Visit Lao PDR 2018 and I wish the best for 2018 Visit Lao PDR.
29. I am also pleased that Madam Sengdeuane Lachanthaboune, Minister of Education and Sports of the Lao PDR undertook a Working Visit to Malaysia from 18 to 22 August 2017 to support the 29th SEA Games.
30. During the visit, Madam Sengdeuane Lachanthaboune had a meeting with the Honourable Dato’ Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Minister of Education of Malaysia on 21 August 2017 in Kuala Lumpur which led to the proposal of signing an MoU in the field of Basic Education Cooperation between both countries.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
31. I am proud to note that between 2013 and 2016, Malaysia has been listed as one the best places to retire to in the world, with the country being ranked in third (3rd) position on the Global Retirement Index. This is partly the result the Malaysia My Second Home Programme to allow eligible foreigners to live in the country on a long stay visa for up to ten (10) years.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
32. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartiest appreciation to the Lao PDR News Agencies, especially Vientiane Times and KPL News for their excellent coverage on Malaysia-Lao PDR relations.
33. In addition, social media has played a pivotal role of spreading and sharing news. I am happy to note that platform such as the Embassy’s Facebook and Twitter has been successful in linking the Malaysian Embassy with the people of the Lao PDR.
34. To date, Facebook of the Malaysia Embassy has amassed a total of more than one thousand (1000) followers in just a few months and I thank you for following our news.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
35. To our Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) Alumni, I wish you all greater success with the experience gained in Malaysia for your career advancement and future endeavors.
36. In closing and once again, I wish to express my utmost appreciation and thanks to the Government and friendly people of the Lao PDR for their warm hospitality, solidarity and excellent support extended to the Embassy of Malaysia as well as to fellow Malaysians residing and doing business in this country.
37. I hope that all of you would enjoy the Fashion Show - Dress of Malaysian Ethnics and I thanked Istana Budaya, which is entrusted to care for cultural performances in Malaysia including the recent performance during opening and closing of the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. Special thanks to National Museum of Malaysia also for their support. Please also enjoy Malaysian Food that is being served tonight. “Selamat Menjamu Selera” and “Bon Apetite”.
38. Now, I would like to invite His Excellency Mr. Saluemxay to join me on stage for a toast.
May I now propose a toast:
To the good health of His Excellency President Bounnyang Vorachith of the Lao PDR and His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, Sultan Muhammad V, as well as to the prosperity, success and happiness of the peoples of both countries and all our guests who are present here this evening. Korp Chai Lai Lai and Terima kasih.