PRESIDENT OBAMA APPRECIATES MALAYSIA'S CONTRIBUTION

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab


SINGAPORE, Nov 16 (Bernama) – United States (US) President Barack Obama
today expressed his great appreciation for Malaysia's contribution in
maintaining regional peace and security all this while.

Obama cited the role played by Malaysia in tackling terrorism, as the
intermediary in resolving the conflict in Southern Philippines, maintaining
security in the Straits of Melaka and checking human trafficking to third
countries at a meeting between Asean and the US at the Shangri-La Hotel, here.

This was stated by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak at a media
conference after attending the meeting immediately after the conclusion of the
Asia Pacific Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) at the Istana.

Najib said the Asean-US Meeting was historic as it was the first time that
such a meeting was being held, and it was obvious that the US was keen to forge
closer relations with Asean.

He said Obama had stated that he intended to enhance relations with Asean
through various cooperation including trade, investment, technology, education,
the teaching and learning of English language and continuing the 'Peace Corps'
programme.

The Prime Minister said Vietnam, who will be the chairman of Asean next
year,
also expressed its hope that the meeting between the Asean leaders and the US
President would be turned into an annual event.

He said Obama wanted to have close contacts with Asean and hoped that Asean
would become an inclusive economic region.

Najib also disclosed that the US wished to hold dialogues with the Muslim
countries and asked Malaysia to assist her in the process of holding inter-faith
dialogues.

Obama also stated that the US would endeavour to resolve the peace process
in
West Asia no matter how difficult it would be, said Najib who described the
statement as a good start for the Muslim world.

On the Myanmar issue, which was also raised at the Asean-US Meeting, the
Prime
Minister said Obama had stated his desire to see the achievement of democracy
and the release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the Asean member
country.

Responding to a question, Najib said Myanmar did not give any response
when
the issue of Suu Kyi's release was raised by Obama, but it welcomed the US
engagement policy.
Asked on Obama's stand on free trade, the Prime Minister said although the
US President was facing pressure in his country to defend the US trade, the tone
from Obama showed that he rejected protectionism and somewhat accepted free
trade.
Najib said Obama's approach might be different but his principles on free
trade remained the same and he certainly gave his commitment on the matter.

After the media conference, Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor
took the opportunity to pay a visit on the Constitutional Ruler of Kelantan who
has been receiving medical treatment at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital for the
past few months, before departing for Kuala Lumpur.

-– BERNAMA