M'SIA HOPES OBAMA CAN CHANGE U.S. POLICY

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is hopeful that Barack Obama who won the election yesterday to become the 44th president of the United States, could change US administration and foreign policies.

Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim said it was hoped that the US could change
its foreign policy and image as brash and aggressive to a country that
recognised the democratic principles and diplomacy of other countries.

"It's too early for us now to predict what will happen. But we at
Wisma
Putra (Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) are hopeful that there will be
change with the new administration and leadership under Barack Obama as he
himself had promised that if he became the new US president," Rais told a news
conference at Wisma Putra, here Thursday.

He said Malaysia had never denied US capability and advancement in weaponry
or new technology but it should balance the need for these with human
considerations for a more peaceful world.

"What we hope is for US policy to have a more human face to it for the
world, and that Malaysia-US relations would be more cordial and constructive,
and for the US to regard Malaysia as a respected partner in the world
community," he added.

Rais said Malaysia also hoped that the US would no longer use aggression or
its position of having superior weapons in solving a conflict.

"Wisma Putra is prepared to propose to the cabinet that our leaders who
visit US after this, will take the opportunity to meet their counterparts or US
officials so that both countries could look closely at each other country's real
needs."

On the Philippine government's request for the Malaysian monitoring team to
continue to be deployed in Mindanao, Rais said Malaysia had not received any
official request on the matter although the team's peacekeeping mission was
expected to end at the end of this month.

"At this stage, I can only say that if the Philippines really wishes to
forge harmony in the spirit of Asean friendship, we are prepared to consider
factors that could help resolve the conflict in Mindanao, especially when they
involve the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front
(MNLF) and others who demand autonomy for their areas.

Earlier, Rais received cheques for RM42,000 (US$1=RM3.61), being donations
for victims of the Nargis Typhoon in Myanmar and earthquake victims in China, on
behalf of the Foreign Ministry's Natural Disaster Fund.

The cheques were handed over to him by representatives of the Inland
Revenue Board, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Aminuddin Baki and Melaka Council of
Datuk.