ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND, MARY McALEESE AT THE STATE DINNER IN HONOUR OF THE KING
ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND, MARY McALEESE AT THE STATE DINNER IN HONOUR OF THE KING & QUEEN OF MALAYSIA, DUBLIN CASTLE
A Mhórgachtaí,
Tá fáilte romhaibh go hÉirinn.
Your Majesties, Taoiseach, Ministers, Distinguished Guests.
It is a great honour to welcome your Majesties to Ireland on the occasion of the first State Visit by a King of Malaysia.
Nine months ago Martin and I spent a fascinating week in your vibrant and welcoming country on the first visit to Malaysia by an Irish President. We remember the graciousness and kindness we experienced throughout our stay and in particular the warm welcome we received from Your Majesties at your beautiful Istana Negara residence. I hope you will both take away from Ireland memories as happy as those we brought home from Malaysia.
As a leading force behind the development of the group of ASEAN member countries, Malaysia stands as an example in terms of how it has sewn together its complex
multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-lingual society. No visitor to Malaysia returns without being struck by the energy and dynamism of the society that makes up this diverse but united nation. By any measurement, the development of Malaysia since its independence stands as an example to the remarkable commitment, tenacity and drive of its people. The striking Petronas Towers building, which I visited, is a powerful symbol of your country’s 21st century ambitions.
Over the last two decades, Malaysia has embraced education as its path to progress, a model of development which resonates here in Ireland. I am pleased that Irish people made their contribution to education in Malaysia. Many Irish teachers from religious teaching orders have contributed over a long period of time to Malaysian education and I had the privilege of meeting some of them, and perhaps more importantly, some of their pupils during my visit.
Your Majesties, given this Irish involvement over many decades, it is not surprising that education remains a key driver for relations between our two countries. We highly value the contribution which Malaysian students have made to the life of our universities. They have excelled in their subject areas and are a credit to their country.
Your Majesty has graciously consented to receive an Honorary Degree from National University of Ireland, Cork where many Malaysians study. Many others are to be found in all our Universities. There are very well known links between our two countries in the field of medical study, as was brought home to me when I had the pleasure of visiting the Penang Medical College. This joint venture by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University College Dublin, Penang Development Corporation and others, delivers the highest standards of medical training to young Malaysians, all of whom will spend part of their training in Ireland.
Medical study is only part of the picture however, as there are now over 1,000 young Malaysians studying at third level in Ireland. In accountancy, the Dublin Business School is active in Malaysia in collaboration with the Malay development agency, MARA. There are exciting new opportunities for Malaysians to study in subject areas for which our universities have gained reputations worldwide - such as engineering and IT.
The experience of the Malaysian students in Irish Universities is a highly positive one and many retain a lifelong connection with their Irish alma mater. We are keen to foster close relations with these graduates and the recent establishment of the Malaysian Irish Alumni Association as a network to bring together graduates, from whatever college or discipline, is a welcome step.
Your Majesties, in addition to ensuring our young people have the greatest possible access to education, both countries are mindful of the challenge to our prosperity posed by the arrival of lower cost economies into sectors where we have heretofore been dominant. Investment in research and development is the key to our future industrial prospects. By investing in excellence in basic research, we are investing in future social and economic growth and industrial development. Mindful that Ireland must compete on skills and innovation rather than on the basis of cost, the Irish Government has established Science Foundation Ireland to drive technological change.
Under a detailed programme, increased priority is being given to R & D as a means of assuring the economy’s future prospects. A fundamental aspect of this is the recognition for closer collaboration with leading overseas scientists and researchers and I hope that further Irish‑Malaysian partnerships will emerge in this area of intense importance to both countries. The potential here was very apparent to me during my visit to your country.
When measured in terms of trade, our partnership is excellent. Malaysia is Ireland’s fourth largest export market outside Europe and there is the scope to increase the level of investment and trade in both directions. The development of formal business links can be significant in helping to build confidence on both sides, and in this regard I welcome the recent signing of an agreement between the Malaysian Federation of Manufacturers, the Malaysian Chambers of Commerce and their Irish counterparts in the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland.
I am also pleased that we continue to enjoy an excellent political relationship. Since the visit of Prime Minister Mahathir to Ireland in 1992, there has been a wide range of Government level visitors in both directions, culminating in Your Majesties visit to Ireland this week. These high-level visits have contributed to close ties and a high degree of affinity and mutual understanding. This relationship has become more significant at a time when we both play such active roles with our regional bodies, the European Union and ASEAN respectively.
With its record of support for the United Nations and proud history of participation in UN peacekeeping missions, many of which included joint operations with Irish troops, Malaysia stands out as an effective and positive role model and leader in the Islamic world.
Your Majesties, another wonderful part of my visit to Kuala Lumpur was the opportunity to visit the Islamic Arts Museum where I viewed many splendid examples of Islamic art and literature. I have an abiding memory of the Children’s library in that museum and the depiction of children’s stories from the Qur’an. There were picture books of Noah’s Ark and many other stories we would think of as Christian in origin. It was a simple but important example of how much we all have in common.
I am delighted that Your Majesties will be able to visit the Chester Beatty Library here in Dublin, which holds a diverse and rich collection of Islamic artefacts. This wonderful Islamic library of ours has agreed to cooperate with the National Library of Malaysia in the creation of an Islamic Digital Library and I hope that this project will help to bring the great variety of Islamic culture to a much wider audience.
I would now like to propose a toast to the health of the Their Majesties, The Yang di‑Pertuan Agong and The Raja Permaisuri Agong and to the deepening of the warm friendship between the people and Government of Ireland and the people and Government of Malaysia.