Malaysia Confident Of Close Bilateral Ties With New US Administration

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 (Bernama) - The government believes the new United States (US) administration of President-elect Donald Trump will not take regressive measures against Islamic countries. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Reezal Merican Naina Merican was confident the close bilateral ties between Malaysia and the US would continue. "The bilateral ties are build on the basis of mutual respect and close cooperation via exchange of visits, dialogue, investment, trade, defence, security, education, agriculture, science and technology and people-to-people," he said when winding up the Supply Bill 2017 in Dewan Negara, here Wednesday. In fact, the bilateral ties with the US reached 'Comprehensive Partnership' in 2014 in various areas and had provided many benefits to both countries. Reezal Merican said Malaysia would cooperate with the new US administration to ensure the continuity of close ties in the interest of both countries. Trump, the Republican Party nominee, upset the odds to win the US Presidential election on November 8. He obtained a total of 306 electoral votes to beat favourite Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party nominee. The US administration is in transition with the new line-up still in the works. Trump will officially take office as the 45th US President on January 20, 2017. --BERNAMA