Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
(1) US state sec meets students, NGOs in IIU, 2 November 2010
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the International Islamic University (IIU) in Kuala Lumpur as the Obama administration seeks to cultivate ties with Muslim-majority Malaysia.
At the International Institute for Islamic Thought and Civilisation, a think-tank based in IIU, she fielded questions about US foreign policy in a programme broadcast on television this morning.
The audience included mainly university students but also members of civil society.
Clinton also met with Malaysian women leaders ahead of the event, which is part of a so-called public diplomacy where Clinton strives to make America's case before a larger audience than the usual politicians and diplomats she meets.
The chief US diplomat is due to hold talks later today with Foreign Minister Anifah Aman and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is standing in for a sick Prime Minister Najib Razak.
A Malaysian government official had said on condition of anonymity Monday that she was also scheduled to see opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is fighting sodomy charges that could see him jailed for up to 20 years.
Aides to Anwar had also said they expected a meeting. But in a bid to downplay the meeting with Anwar, US embassy officials in Kuala Lumpur have declined to confirm or give details of the meeting.
Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed on separate sex and corruption counts a decade ago, says he is again the victim of a political conspiracy and fears he will not receive justice on the latest allegations.
On a visit to Washington in June, Anwar welcomed the attention paid to Malaysia by President Barack Obama but said Washington needed to be careful not to be "condoning the excesses" of Najib's government.
Fifth stop in Asian tour
Malaysia is the fifth stop on an Asia tour that has taken Clinton to Guam, Vietnam, China and Cambodia. She is still to visit Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Australia and American Samoa.
"Few countries have come as far in terms of our bilateral relationship as the one between the United States and Malaysia," Clinton's top diplomat for Asia, Kurt Campbell, said before the tour began last Wednesday.
He cited "enormous progress on a range of issues - (nuclear) proliferation issues, political coordination, and strategic dialogue".
Malaysia is also important as a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an organisation the Obama administration is trying to re-engage with after blaming the previous Bush administration for ignoring it.
Clinton is the first US secretary of state to make a bilateral visit to Malaysia since Warren Christopher in 1995. Former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice visited Malaysia in a multilateral context in 2006 to attend a regional forum.
Political relations were rocky when Malaysia was led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was known for his strident criticism of the West during two decades in power, which ended when he stepped down in 2003.
The United States sometimes riles Malaysia with calls to expand democratic freedom.
- AFP
(2) Clinton: M'sia can be Muslim 'thought leader', 2 November 2010
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today that Muslim-majority Malaysia can be a global "thought leader", praising the multicultural nation's efforts to avoid religious rifts.
On a visit to cultivate ties with the moderate country, Clinton told an Islamic university forum in Kuala Lumpur that Malaysia can be influential among both the world's Muslims and the broader international community.
"Malaysia, both by geography, (its) dynamism, the role that Islam plays, which is a role that is not divisive as it is in some parts of the world, has a real opportunity to be a thought leader in a number of significant areas," she said.
She lauded Malaysia's "creative approach" to Islamic finance and noted the presence of civil society group Sisters in Islam, which she said promotes the role of women within Islamic traditions.
The chief US diplomat praised the South-East Asian country's efforts to boost the economy while protecting the environment and "creative ways' to deal with deforestation.
Clinton made the remarks at the International Institute for Islamic Thought and Civilisation, where she fielded questions about US foreign policy in a programme broadcast on Malaysian television.
When he took office in January 2009, President Barack Obama vowed to get US relations with the Muslim world on a fresh footing after the previous administration of George W Bush.
Clinton also told students that the United States was working hard for a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, in response to an audience member's comment that Muslims were frustrated with a sense that America was pro-Israel.
She said the United States was equally supportive of the Palestinians and Israelis, backing a secure Israel living alongside a Palestinian state.
"It is important for a country like Malaysia to support Palestinians in their statebuilding," she added.
Later, Clinton held talks with Foreign Minister Anifah Aman. She was also due to meet Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is standing in for Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has chickenpox.
She also met Malaysian women leaders, including top bankers.
Malaysia has positioned itself as a centre for Islamic finance, a booming trillion-dollar industry which follows religious laws prohibiting the payment and collection of interest.
Malaysia is the fifth stop on an Asia tour that has taken Clinton to Guam, Vietnam, China and Cambodia. She is still to visit Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Australia and American Samoa.
Malaysia is also important as a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an organisation the Obama administration is trying to re-engage with after blaming the Bush administration for ignoring it.
Relations with Washington were rocky when Malaysia was led by Mahathir Mohamad, who was known for his strident criticism of the West during his two-decade rule, which ended in 2003.
The United States sometimes riled Malaysia with calls to expand democratic freedoms.
- AFP
(3) Malaysia and America 'boleh', says Clinton, 3 November 2010
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is impressed with Malaysia's high economic growth, having rebounded strongly from the recent global turmoil.
"Malaysia's economy has done so well despite being hard hit by the global downturn, but it has come back strongly this year," she said at the Skypark Terminal of the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang today.
"Challenges that have been met by the leadership and citizens of Malaysia continue to put Malaysia back on track as the high growth is impressive indeed," she said at the Malaysia Airlines' showcase of partnership with American companies operating in Malaysia.
Malaysia's growth momentum in the first half of 2010 rebounded to 9.5 percent from a negative 5.1 percent in the same period last year.
Clinton, who concluded her three-day visit to Malaysia today, said Malaysia and the US had very similar goals that the US President Barack Obama had set to double exports over the next five years.
She said both countries have very strong foundation to move forward into deep economic ties as American manufacturing companies had invested US$15 billion and employed 166,000 Malaysians.
Clinton said she regarded the partnership between Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Boeing, Pratt & Whitney and GE as a "win-win" relationship which could create high-paying skills jobs in both countries.
"We need growth, but it must be the right kind of growth, balanced, long-term and inclusive," she said.
Shared prosperity
Clinton also said the US was happy with Malaysia's decision to join in the negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as the TPP Agreement would promote shared success by expanding market access and building a level-playing field for employees in every country that participated in the talks.
"No one can do this alone, the days of going alone in the global economy are behind us, building shared prosperity is the goal that we can achieve together.
"I know we got determination and talents and we have deep ties between our two countries at the governmental level, business level and people-to-people level," she added.
“I want to end with what I hear is a Malaysian expression of national resolve. So Malaysia, America, Boleh, and congratulations to all the companies involved in this venture.”
- Bernama
(End)
