Former Malaysian PM to speak at Victoria

31 October 2006Former Malaysian PM to speak atVictoriaThe former Prime Rosetta Stone V3 Minister of Malaysia, Tun DrMahathir bin Mohamad, is to deliver the 2006 Chair of MalayStudies Saad Lecture at Victoria University on November7.Dr Mahathir, who was Prime Minister from 1981 to 2003,will argue that the path to peaceful resolution of disputesis to criminalise war. Dr Mahathir has been privatelyinvolved in attempts to initiate peace talks with Islamicinsurgents in Thailands Muslim-dominated southernprovinces.In a prxE9,cis of his speech, CriminaliseWar,The Path to Peaceful Resolution, Dr Mahathir said thesanctioning of war, and the rights of the winner, encouragednations to have strong military forces and to resort to warat the slightest excuse. There will never be peaceuntil winners and losers are tried for their crimes byneutral countries and punished. We must banish war as anoption in the settlement of disputes and conflicts betweennations. This years Saad Lecture celebrates the 10thanniversary of the establishment of the Chair of MalayStudies in Victoria Universitys School of Asian &European Languages & Cultures. The Chair, which Rosetta Stone German iscurrently held by Professor Ungku Maimunah Mohd Tahir, wasestablished in 1996 when Dr Mahathir was Prime Minister ofMalaysia, with the assistance of the Malaysian Government,Renong, and a number of New Zealand companies including NewZealand Post. The Saad Lecture was established through anendowment by Tan Sri Datuk Halim Saad, a Victoria graduate,the Chairman of the Saad Foundation. Professor Maimunahsaid the University was pleased to be able to host a speakerof Dr Mahathirs calibre. Dr Mahathir led one of theworlds most populous Muslim countries for more than 20years, and played a significant role in the countrysrapid modernisation and its transformation into a prosperousand self-confident nation. He has been Rosetta Stone Hindi outspoken in hissupport of Asian and Islamic values and I look forward tolearning of his insights into the complex issues of war andpeace. The 2006 Saad Lecture will be held in LectureTheatre 1, Rutherford House, Lambton Quay, Pipitea Campus,Victoria University, on Tuesday 7 November at 6pm. Mediaare welcome to attend the lecture but must register theirinterest with Antony.Paltridge@vuw.ac.nz or phone 04 4635873 by November 6.