ARKIB

KEJOHANAN TAEKWON-DO SEDUNIA KE 9 1994 (I.T.F), KUALA TERENGGANU

28 - 31 Julai 1994

9th World Taekwon-Do Championship 1994 (I.T.F), Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia

Ucapan Perasmian Oleh Perdana Menteri / Opening Speech By The Prime Minister

It gives me great pleasure to be given this opportunity to address this distinguished gathering today.

On behalf of the Government, the Organising Committee and myself, I bid a warm `Selamat Datang' to all the delegates and  participants to  this  Ninth World Taekwon-Do Championship which is being held in Terengganu.
 

This occasion is made possible by the confidence placed by the International Taekwon-Do Federation in its Malaysian counterpart.  Malaysia  is  happy  to play host to such an event,  especially  now  that  work  is being focused on preparations  for  the Commonwealth  Games to be hosted by Malaysia in 1998.

An international event with participation  from  more than  80  countries  may  be  quite a new experience for the State of Terengganu.  I therefore would like to commend  the efforts by the State Government and the Minister of Tourism, Arts  and  Culture and all the officials involved in making possible this event today.   This  could  not  have  been  a better way of introducing Terengganu to foreign participants and delegates especially in terms of its strategic location. The  Taekwon-Do  Championship which  is being held here can complement the State's efforts to promote not only tourism but also to encourage foreign and local investments to be located in the East Coast region generally and Terengganu in particular.

Besides, this  event  today  represents  yet  another opportunity  for  participants  and delegates to get to know each other  better. This  will  go  a  long  way  towards strengthening  the  relations  between  Malaysia and  other countries, particularly in helping to  bridge  the  cultural gap between member countries.

I understand Taekwon-Do in Malaysia had its beginning in 1963 when His Excellency General Choi Hong Hi was Korea's First Ambassador.  Today with more than 100,000 members I am sure this occasion will be a special home-coming  for  His Excellency  General  Choi  Hong  Di.    His early efforts in introducing Taekwan-Do in Malaysia have proved to be a seed well-sown.

Although I may not be involved in the martial  arts,  I still  believe  that martial arts are useful in moulding the character of a nation.  With discipline,  i.e.  self-control as  its  basic  requirement,  martial  arts  can develop our younger generation to be  more  responsible    and  to  have
qualities  that  are  important  to  nation-building and the development of human values.   Today in a  world  where  the powerless  and  the  weak  are  being  openly  oppressed, it becomes our social responsibility to inculcate  and  nurture in  our  young  an  understanding of right and wrong and the need  to  uphold  good  moral  values. This   Taekwan-Do Championship  is  therefore  most  appropriate as a platform where the  fostering of friendship among  participants  could be enhanced and to promote world peace and goodwill.

Though this is not a proper forum to dwell on such a philosophical issue  the  sight  of  the  contingents today reminds me of the hope for the international community to do what  is  morally  right, especially when so many around the world are  being  so  blatantly  forced  to  migrate  or  be massacred. It is  no longer considered honourable to get slightly hurt in order to  help  the  less  fortunate.

This Championship may be just another event but it is my hope that participants and delegates will take some time off to see and enjoy the beautiful and enchanting spots here in the  East  Coast  and  bring  home  with you the memories of Terengganu and Malaysia.

On that note, I  have  great  pleasure  to  officially launch the Ninth World Taekwan-Do Championship.
 

Thank you.
MAHATHIR MOHAMAD

Prime Minister

Sumber/Source : Pejabat Perdana Menteri/Prime Minister Office

Keputusan Penuh / Results

Lelaki / Men

Wanita/ Women