United States president Barack Obama is finally headed to KL, and preparations are in place to ensure he gets no rest whatsoever throughout his two-day stopover.
Obama was initially scheduled to visit Kuala Lumpur last October, but the US budget crisis at the time necessitated a postponement of his Asian tour.
Obama will arrive on Air Force One at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Subang on Saturday afternoon, and will be accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama.
He will be ushered to a formal welcome ceremony at Parliament Square, to be followed by an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and a state banquet at the Istana Negara.
His Sunday itinerary will be no less hectic, beginning with a stop at the US embassy in Jalan Tun Razak, followed by a cultural visit to the National Mosque. The US president will also attend official talks with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya, bear witness to the signing of memorandums of understanding, and attend the launch of the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creative Centre (MaGIC) in Cyberjaya, which aims to transform Malaysia into a dynamic entrepreneurial hub.
The highlight of his trip to KL will be a town hall session with young leaders selected from the 10 Asean nations, to be held in Universiti Malaya. The Star Online reports that Obama is also scheduled to meet with Malaysian civil rights leaders.
A noted omission from his itinerary in KL is a meeting with leaders of the political opposition, which has caused supporters of Pakatan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to cry foul.
On Monday morning, Obama will witness the signing of several corporate agreements before flying off to Manila.
