It may have been a short visit for Barack Obama, but the United States (US) president was overwhelmed by Malaysia's hospitality and touched by its people's warmth and friendliness.
This was disclosed by US Ambassador to Malaysia Joseph Y. Yun at a media roundtable in the US Embassy here on Monday, who said Obama left Malaysia with a tinge of memorable and meaningful nostalgia.
"When Obama left, he asked me to convey his thanks to the prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) who was such a gracious host, and to a number of ministers, including (Foreign Minister Datuk Seri) Anifah Aman and (Youth and Sports Minister) Khairy Jamaluddin who was also the minister-in-attendance, for playing a big part of this visit.
"He really asked me to convey (Obama's thanks) to the hosts for their warm welcome and being engaging throughout the whole visit. Obama was very much moved by the welcome shown to him wherever he went, by Malaysians, students at Universiti Malaya, young entrepreneurs at Cyberjaya and civil society leaders," he said.
The three-day visit, beginning April 26, to this Southeast Asian nation of 30 million people - part of Obama's four-nation tour of Asia - is a first by a sitting US president in 48 years since President Lyndon B. Johnson's trip back in 1966.
Click here for the 10 Best 'Obama Moments' in Malaysia
Yun said Obama was impressed to see crowds lining up to catch a glimpse of the US president at the routes he travelled during his stay in Malaysia.
From his personal point of view, Yun said Obama and Najib shared a very good relationship, familiaritiy with each other, and almost like two old friends meeting after some time.
"They have met many times on both multilateral and bilateral settings and whenever I saw those two interacting together, I am reminded that they know each other so well, that I don't have to brief the president anything at all," he said, adding that Obama's visit was a successful one.
He added that Obama had a personal familiarisation with Malaysia, whereby he remained comfortable in terms of knowledge and relationship, which the president would like to build between the US and the region.
"His personal history matters a lot, for example, during the state banquet, he recollected memories of how his mother collected batik and his half-Indonesian sister's in-laws are Malaysians.
"Even during the small bilateral lunch at Seri Perdana, Obama was telling people how nasi goreng should be cooked, and the best way of cooking it. He also joked about durian, that he (Obama) had tried it several times and (that durian is) not his favourite fruit," he said.
With such a unique friendship shared between Obama and Najib, Yun said they both brought the US and Malaysia relations to a comprehensive partnership, with greater collaboration on the economy, security, education, science, technology and other fields.
"With this new phase of ties, the leaders very much left us with homework such as how do we make progress on visa waiver programme, how to go about expanding education programmes, and lastly, how to cooperate outside Malaysia and within Asean," he said.
Elaborating on the US' Visa Waiver Programme, Yun said Malaysia had to meet a set of qualifications as outlined by US laws and provisions, such as the visa refusal rate had to be about three per cent, Malaysia must report stolen and lost passports to Interpol and exchange data on terrorists and criminals.
"Although Malaysia has met some conditions such as machine-readable passport, allowing Americans in without visas, so, we are making some progress but it will take probably a little time to be qualified for the programme," he explained.
However, he said no date was set for a series of consultations and technical briefings to carry out a proper assessment on the visa waiver programme.
Citizens from countries listed under the visa waiver programme are allowed to travel and stay in the US for a maximum of 90 days without a visa.
Malaysia's visa refusal rate stands at five per cent.
On Malaysia's Chairmanship of Asean 2015, Yun said US was looking forward both diplomatically and economically, and would contribute significantly towards the future direction of Asean and its bid to become the next regional giant.
"US has been supportive of Asean as a grouping of nations, (that) is why we joined the East Asia Summit, by offering technical assistance to Asean on single market, energy issues. It will be an opportunity for US to make progress on so many things," he said.
Bernama
Mon May 05 2014
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (left) and US President Barack Obama during the president's visit to Malaysia.
AWANI Ringkas: Polis sahkan Chegu Bard direman dua hari
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
AWANI 7:45 [28/04/2024] – Malaysia tumpu pelaburan baharu | Pertumbuhan saksama dan inklusif | Kajian pertubuhan buruh antarabangsa | Tabung Haji teruskan bantuan
Laporan berita padat dan ringkas #AWANI745 bersama Dzulfitri Yusof
Tumpuan #AWANI745 malam ini:
- Malaysia hadapi cabaran baharu dari negara maju, bidang teknologi, tegas PM
- Ekonomi dunia kian tidak seimbang, Tengku Zafrul di pentas forum desak negara maju lebih adil dan saksama
- 70 peratus pekerja dunia terdedah kepada penyakit akibat perubahan iklim
- Tabung Haji tanggung kos lebih RM350 juta tahun ini
Tumpuan #AWANI745 malam ini:
- Malaysia hadapi cabaran baharu dari negara maju, bidang teknologi, tegas PM
- Ekonomi dunia kian tidak seimbang, Tengku Zafrul di pentas forum desak negara maju lebih adil dan saksama
- 70 peratus pekerja dunia terdedah kepada penyakit akibat perubahan iklim
- Tabung Haji tanggung kos lebih RM350 juta tahun ini
Liek Hou rangkul dua lagi emas di Sepanyol
Jaguh badminton para negara Cheah Liek Hou terus cemerlang apabila menggondol dua pingat emas pada Kejohanan Badminton Para Sepanyol Antarabangsa II 2024 pada Sabtu.
Negara maju harus tundukkan 'ego' dan bekerjasama dengan ASEAN - Penganalisis
Menurut Faisal, ini kerana negara membangun di ASEAN sedang mencorak ekonomi ke arah lebih mampan yang perlu dimanfaatkan negara maju
Rakyat Malaysia di Jordan jadi duta produk PMKS negara - Ewon
Datuk Ewon Benedick menyarankan rakyat Malaysia yang menetap di Jordan supaya memainkan peranan sebagai "duta" untuk mempromosikan produk PMKS dan koperasi negara.
Fokus Minggu Depan: Solidariti Gaza Merentasi Bangsa dan Agama
Break The Siege: Fokus Minggu Depan membincangkan topik Solidariti Gaza Merentasi Bangsa dan Agama susulan penangguhan misi penghantaran bantuan ke Gaza anjuran Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC).
Lelaki rugi lebih RM13,000 terperdaya tawaran kerja dalam talian
Seorang lelaki berputih mata apabila wangnya berjumlah RM13,460 lesap setelah menjadi mangsa penipuan tawaran kerja.
Misi ditangguh, delegasi Malaysia berlepas pulang
Delegasi Malaysia dalam misi Break The Siege Freedom Flotilla To Gaza akan berlepas pulang malam ini.
Keputusan dicapai selepas Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) tidak dapat meneruskan misi selepas Republik Guinea-Bissau menarik balik kebenaran menggunakan bendera untuk dua kapal yang digunakan.
Laporan lanjut bersama Syaff Shukri di Istanbul.
Keputusan dicapai selepas Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) tidak dapat meneruskan misi selepas Republik Guinea-Bissau menarik balik kebenaran menggunakan bendera untuk dua kapal yang digunakan.
Laporan lanjut bersama Syaff Shukri di Istanbul.
Ustaz Wan sanggup bina tempat main boling DIY di sekolah kampung
Ustaz Wan mempunyai minat yang sangat tinggi terhadap sukan boling dan berhasrat untuk turut mengasah bakat anak muridnya.
Karnival Malaysia di New Delhi tarik 2,000 pengunjung
Pengunjung diraikan dengan persembahan kebudayaan, makanan, demonstrasi masakan, mencanting batik dan peluang merasai buah-buahan tropika Malaysia.
Kematian tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama diisytihar satu kemalangan
Punca kematian diisytiharkan sebagai kes lemas dan cara kematian disahkan sebagai satu kemalangan.
Tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama ditemukan lemas
Mendiang Campbell meninggalkan seorang isteri, Sherise dan sepasang anak kembar.
Kes 1MDB: Jho Low rancang derma RM132 juta kempen Obama 2012
DiCaprio memberitahu juri bahawa Jho Low merancang untuk menderma sekitar AS$30 juta bagi membantu kempen pemilihan semula Barack Obama.
Naib Presiden AS Kamala Harris mulakan lawatan seminggu ke Afrika
Kamala Harris memulakan lawatan seminggu ke Afrika bermula hujung minggu ini.
Pemimpin, selebriti dan peminat bola sepak dunia ratapi pemergian Pele
Pele meninggal dunia pada usia 82 tahun selepas bertarung dengan kanser kolon.
Obama, Michelle kembali ke White House untuk lancar potret rasmi
Bekas Presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS) Barack Obama dan isteri Michelle Obama kembali ke Rumah Putih untuk melancarkan potret rasmi mereka.
Obama umum positif COVID-19
Beliau dalam pada itu turut memaklumkan isterinya Bekas Wanita Pertama Michelle negatif jangkitan itu setakat ini.
Pertembungan generasi tua dan muda sebenarnya cetuskan cabaran berbahaya - Obama
Masih ramai golongan berusia yang berada di takuk lama termasuk cara kepimpinan dan pemikiran
Sisi luka perang di Afghanistan tinggalan Amerika
Sorotan kesan misi hampir dua dekad tentera Amerika Syarikat di Afghanistan ke atas generasi kanak-kanak, yang paling terdera disebabkan perang. Nasib mereka terus tidak menentu di tangan Taliban
Ekonomi dunia: China tidak akan lepasi AS sebagai pemimpin global - Biden
Biden berjanji akan membuat pelaburan besar bagi memastikan negara Uncle Sam itu menang dalam persaingan membabitkan dua gergasi ekonomi dunia itu.