United States President Barack Obama is scheduled to pay his second visit to Malaysia in the space of less than two years, this time to attend the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysian ambassador to the US, Awang Adek Hussin, announced Obama’s visit, while saying that it was proof that Malaysia and ASEAN are proving to be vital entities to the US in terms of diplomatic and economic relations.
“For 48 years, no sitting US President had visited Malaysia, until Mr Obama’s state visit to KL last April,” he said, as quoted by Berita Harian‘s R Magendran.
“This is certainly an honour for our nation.”
Awang added that the visit would be part of the US’s retooling of its foreign policy under the Obama administration, in part by fostering closer ties to Asian nations, particularly those from the ASEAN bloc.
“ASEAN’s current position as the world’s seventh-largest economic power is seen by the United States as a solid investment oportunity and a promising new market,” he said.
Awang also said that the visit would provide an impetus for the US and Malaysian governments to discuss further the possibility of eliminating visa restrictions on Malaysians hoping to visit the States – something Prime Minister Najib Razak had promised to achieve by the end of next year.
“Before we can reach that stage (in visa requirements) we have to beef up our own immigration procedures in order to fall under US requirements, such as our enforcement on terror activities,” Awang said.
“Moreover, Malaysia needs to ensure that the rate of rejection for visa applications by the US Embassy in Malaysia falls to under three percent.”
Here’s hoping that Obama’s second visit to KL will see the Leader of the Free World™ playing a round of golf with good buddy PM Najib … and maybe a few more of these brotastic wefies:
Have you seen: TOP TEN THINGS TO DO IN PENANG?
