New US Ambassador To Malaysia Calls On Deputy PM Zahid

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Jan 27 (Bernama) -- The new United States Ambassador to Malaysia Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir on Friday called on Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at his office here. They discussed, among others, Malaysia's initiative in addressing human trafficking, developments in Malaysia's participation in the United States Visa Waiver Programme, threats to regional and global security and migration issues, according to a statement released by Ahmad Zahid. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said in the statement that Malaysia had taken drastic measures to increase the number of convictions for human trafficking, with 403 cases brought to court last year with 91 convictions last year and seven in 2015. He said one important measure was the setting up of a Special Task Force to address the crime with the cooperation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Bangkok as well as with the United States. Ahmad Zahid said the diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the United States, established in 1957, covered cooperation in various fields including trade, investment, defence, security, education, science and technology, and agriculture. Earlier, the new US Ambassador to Malaysia Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir paid a courtesy call on Ahmad Zahid at his office. Lakhdhir had taken up her post on Jan 5, succeeding Joseph Yun whose tour of duty ended in October last year. Ahmad Zahid said that based on their discussions, Lakhdhir was committed to conveying Malaysia's message on the US visa waiver programme to the new US administration. "I reckon the message is loud and clear and she showed that she is very committed," he said. Malaysia expressed its desire to participate in the US Visa Waiver Programme during talks between Prime Minister Najib Razak and the then US President Barack Obama when he visited Malaysia in April 2014. The programme will enable Malaysians to enter and stay in the United States without a visa for a maximum of 90 days for tourism and business. On other matters discussed at their meeting, Ahmad Zahid said Lakhdhir would return to Washington DC to get an input on the new US policies and to meet all the newly appointed ambassadors. Ahmad Zahid expressed confidence that the matters he had discussed with Lakhdhir would see continuation although President Trump would be introducing new policies. --BERNAMA