COMMITMENT BY OBAMA AND NAJIB SET TO FURTHER IMPROVE US-MSIA TIES, SAYS ENVOY

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Relations between the United States and
Malaysia is set to further improve based on the earnest commitment shown by
President Barack Obama and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, towards
strengthening political and economic bonds.

This was stated by the United States Ambassador to Malaysia, James
R.Keith, in an interview with Bernama.

"We want to fully realise the potential in our bilateral relations"
he said.

"We need to keep doing more by increasing the common grounds of interest
that
exist between Malaysia and the United States and become closer politically," he
added.

Keith said Obama and Najib are not just talking but also realising the
potential relationship between the United States and Malaysia.

He said, going forward, the United States would like to see increasing
opportunities to bring the American and Malaysian people, closer.

He highlighted climate change and non-proliferation as two key areas of
focus, which Obama was also giving priority to.

Economically, Malaysia is the 18th largest trading partner of the United
States.The balance of trade is in Malaysia's favour at US$45 billion.The United
States is in turn, the largest investor in Malaysia at present.

Cumulatively, Keith said American investors had contributed to Malaysia's
success with about US$15 billion or more, in investments.

Touching on the ongoing discussions with Iran on the nuclear issue, Keith
said the United States believed that Malaysia has and should use its influence
with Iran to help the country make good decisions about the future.

Referring to the recent voting on the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) resolution on Iran, he said the United States took at face value,
Malaysia's explaination that it had mistakenly opposed.

Keith said that if the resolution was tabled again, "perhaps one would
expect Malaysia to have voted or vote with the international mainstream."

"But what we are looking at really now is for Malaysia to take an active
leadership role in the regional and global setting by talking to members of the
Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
membership.

"More importantly, Malaysia has a place on the IAEA Board of Governors and
and it can help us ensure there's a balanced and even handed discussion of all
issues, that point in the direction of international standards and which the UN
has put in place.

"So, that's what we are looking to from Malaysia. It is not just bilateral
relations that we want to see expand but also Malaysia's prominent place in the
world, in terms of leadership on regional and global issues," he explained.

On economic and trade challenges, Keith said: "The whole world is involved
in trying to improve the economic and financial situation.You need to understand
that it is still very tough in the United States.

"Unemployment is still at a 25-year high. So, America is still suffering
and it is going to be a long road to recovery."

According to Keith, the United States believes that it is on the right path
to recovery and with help from Asian and Southeast Asian leaders, we have
managed to resist protectionist tendencies.

"It is not just America but all countries are involved in trying to deal
with the financial and economic crisis and the temptation is to get a bit more,
into looking at building walls, while trying to create an island of stability.

"I think everyone realises we are all in it together and cannot do it this
way," he said.

He also said the United States economy has started to pick up with positive
growth in Q3.

Keith disclosed that positive growth is expected again in Q4 but it is still
a relatively long road to get back to where the country was before.

He also revealed during the interview that the United States was engaging
with Malaysian leaders all the time.

"It could be Najib and Obama having a telephone conversation, sitting down
for a discussion in Singapore or with the senior leadership in Malaysia as well
as the Central Bank Governor, Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz," he said.

Touching on security cooperation, Keith said in general terms, the focus is
on surveillance and law enforcement.

"Our police, the FBI and drug enforcement agencies are working very
closely with their Malaysian counterparts.We are steadily increasing and
expanding cooperation," he added.

To create a steady and stable military relationship, he said United States
naval ships have been visiting Malaysia.

"We undertake naval exercises together as well as practice search and rescue
operations. There are many things we can do in respect of humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief," he said.

Keith also expressed the hope that more American companies will win
contracts in Malaysia.

"This will also create conditions for the United States to get closer to
Malaysia.

"For decades, American electronic firms have been in production in Penang,
Kuala Lumpur, and Johor. There are now new investments by American companies in
Iskandar Malaysia and this is another interesting development," he said.

Keith said personally, he had great confidence in the United States-Malaysia
relationship, and very pleased to see President Barrack Obama and Prime Minister
Najib Tun Razak establishing a strong foundation moving forward.

He also took the opportunity at the interview to wish all Malaysians a Happy
New Year and Chinese New Year as well.

-- BERNAMA