NEW YORK, Sept 28 – Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman said Malaysia’s relations with the United States do face challenges but they provide opportunities as well.
“The United States continues to be our biggest trading partner. The fact that I could meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton only a month after my appointment as foreign minister says a lot about our relationship (with the United States),” he said when met at a gathering with Malaysians living on the east coast of the United States.
“Our approach to our relations with the United States is characterised by our willingness to cooperate rather than be confrontational. We are comfortable with the present administration,” said Anifah who was here to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Of the challenges ahead, he said the two countries faced common issues that included climate change, one of the hottest debates at the UN, as well as terrorism and food security.
“We (the US and Malaysia) need each other more than ever before,” he added.
Anifah was accompanied by his wife Datin Siti Rubiah Abdul Samad and a delegation of officials and two parliamentarians.
At the gathering, he spoke about the 1 Malaysia concept and the government’s efforts to help the poor.
In Malaysia, he stressed, the main concern was to uplift the poor, regardless of race, religion and other factors, and the government would assist those who were deserving.
“Everybody has an opportunity at the end of the day. There is no big gap between the haves and have-nots. 1Malaysia is our country and our prime minister has emphasised that we must have one vision and one goal,” he said.
Anifah also urged Malaysians abroad, including those who had settled in their adopted countries, to network with each other.
“We see more advantages with Malaysians in each nook and corner of the world rather than asking all Malaysians to return home,” he said.
He also advised them to get information from Malaysian missions or the Wisma Putra website and not just rely on information from the Internet, which may not always be true.
Responding to a question on Malaysia’s differences with Indonesia over a number of issues, the foreign minister said that he had just visited Indonesia where he had sought clarification and assurance from top level officials that Malaysian nationals were safe in Indonesia.
Saying that he had been deeply concerned about the developments in bilateral relations between Malaysia and Indonesia, he admitted that there were problems with Indonesia and they had been created by people with vested interests. – Bernama
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Like Obama cares if you are comfortable or not.
After all the ultra Islamic actions ie banning of beer, cow head, Beyonce, BEP and Kartika do you really think US still views Msia as moderate muslim country?
Grow up.