Obama arrives in Malaysia for state visit

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – US President Barack Obama arrived in the Malaysian capital late Saturday for a 3-day state visit, part of his 4-nation Asian tour that aims to showcase the superpower’s continuing “pivot” to the region.

Obama arrived late afternoon aboard Air Force One at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) air base in Subang, just outside the capital, and then proceeded to Parliament Square for an arrival ceremony. After the ceremony, the US president will proceed to the Istana Negara for a State Dinner, where he is also set to deliver a speech.

On his second day in Kuala Lumpur, Obama is scheduled to visit the Masjid Negara (National Mosque), and will meet with Prime Minister Najib Razak. 

It is also in Malaysia that he will conduct a town-hall-style meeting with youth leaders from across Southeast Asia, to be held at the Universiti Malaya.

Major news outlets here in the country have been bannering the presidential visit days ahead of Obama’s arrival, while editorials and op-eds in newspapers – particularly those government-controlled – have been praising the visit and Malaysia-US ties.

Kuala Lumpur is under tight security, particularly in areas where official activities will be held, as well as around the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where Obama and his entourage is staying.

The New Straits Times reported Saturday that despite heavy security, there will be no permanent road closures in the Klang Valley area, where the capital is situated, citing police officials. Several roads were temporarily closed for the motorcade from the air base to the hotel, but were reopened shortly after.

The visit aims to strengthen ties with Muslim-majority Malaysia, the first visit by a serving US president since Lyndon B Johnson visited back in 1966.

Battling image problems in the Islamic world, Washington is keen to emphasize its relations with economically successful, moderate-Muslim Malaysia.

Obama, in an interview with government-controlled The Star newspaper published Saturday, said his historic visit “reflects the renewed leadership role” the United States is playing in the region.

In particular, the visit to Malaysia, he told the paper, aims to “continue the transformation of the relationship” between the two nations, particularly under Prime Minister Najib Razak’s administration.

The diplomatic and political relations between the two countries has been noticeably getting warmer, coming from a testy period under the leadership of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who was a vocal critic of US policies.

“[As] we deepen our cooperation with the Malaysian government, we’re looking to expand our engagement with the Malaysian people – including the civil society groups and young people who are vital to the future of this country and the region,” he told The Star.

“We’ve seen that countries that welcome the contributions, and uphold the human rights, of all their citizens regardless of their political affiliation, ethnicity, race or religion are ultimately more prosperous and more successful. In this sense, Malaysia’s incredible diversity should be a source of strength,” Obama told The Star.

Malaysia and the US are also taking part in the negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a pact that aims to increase trade and commerce in the Asia Pacific region.

Malaysia is resisting key aspects of the TPP, and Obama is seeking to ease the country’s concerns over the deal.

The maritime disputes over the South China Sea will also be on the agenda, with Obama alluding to security cooperation with Malaysia in ensuring “freedom of navigation in critical waterways.”

“[Malaysia and the US] can stand together to ensure that nations in the region play by the same rules and that disputes are resolved peacefully, through dialogue,” Obama said in The Star interview.

Obama’s arrival also comes as the country grapples with the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which is the focus of an international search in the Indian Ocean.

MH370 disappeared from radar somewhere in the South China Sea back in March 8, and is believed to have crashed into the ocean west of Australia.

The US is among the countries who have been helping Malaysia in the search for the missing plane.

Meetings with activists, opposition leaders

Aside from meetings with government officials, he is scheduled to meet briefly on Sunday, April 27, with 9 leading activists and a Christian leader, said Farouk Musa, head of a moderate Muslim group and one of the invitees.

The activists will include representatives of the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, known in Malaysia as “Bersih” (“clean”), an election reform movement whose supporters have clashed with authorities in huge recent protests.

The US has offered praise for Malaysia as a moderate Muslim, multi-faith country.

But Human Rights Watch on Friday urged Obama to “speak loudly” on rights in Malaysia, whose 57-year-old Muslim-dominated ruling coalition is accused by critics of clamping down on opponents and presiding over worsening religious intolerance.

Obama will tread a fine line between courting Najib and acknowledging the huge numbers in multi-cultural Malaysia who are fed up with the corruption-plagued coalition in power for 57 years.

Activists said Obama will also meet representatives of organizations including the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, the Council of Churches and a leading moderate Muslim group, among others.

Meanwhile, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice is set to meet opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is currently facing 5 years in jail for a March sodomy conviction widely considered politically motivated.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim called the government a “corrupt and authoritarian regime” in a statement Saturday that urged Obama to stand up for “freedom and democracy.”

“It would be an opportune moment to live up to the ideals Obama espoused in his campaign and the early days of his administration,” Anwar said.

Malaysia is his 3rd stop, after Japan and South Korea. He is scheduled to continue on to the Philippines on Monday, April 28, the last leg of his trip.

The trip comes amid growing diplomatic and security tensions in Ukraine, as well as the fraying Middle East peace process – both issues vying for the US’ diplomatc attention. – With reports from Agence France-Presse