TAKING TIES TO NEW HEIGHTS
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak hit it off with US President Donald Trump at their closed-door meeting at the White House. Trump says it is a ‘great honour’ to have Najib and his delegation at the White House and that he considers the latter a frien
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MALAYSIA’S and the United States’s bilateral ties soared to new heights after Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s meeting with President Donald Trump.
Officials described Trump’s reception to Najib’s visit and the issues raised during his 50minute four-eyed meeting with Trump and the ensuing delegation meeting at the White House on Tuesday as “extremely positive”.
Highly attentive and responsive was how Trump’s reaction was described during the closeddoor delegation meeting when Najib and his delegation raised a host of issues, including security, terrorism and the Rohingya.
On the atrocities on the Rohingya Muslims, for example, the delegates from both countries dwelled on the subject raised by Najib for some time.
“Malaysia is hopeful that Trump would act on the matter after hearing out the case brought up by Najib and the delegation,” said an official.
Najib had said he would seek Trump’s support to pressure Myanmar into putting a stop to the violence.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since Aug 25, bringing with them tales of mass killings and systematic burning of villages by Myanmar security forces.
This came after Rohingya insurgents attacked police posts, killing 12 officers.
Concerns have been raised over Myanmar’s alleged crimes against humanity, with United Nations special adviser for the prevention of genocide, Adama Dieng, describing it as potentially an act of ethnic cleansing.
Najib is expected to share details of the meetings in his last press conference at 5pm local time (5am Malaysian time) today (Wednesday in Washington and Thursday in Malaysia) before leaving the US.
Ahead of the press conference, the consensus among the Malaysian officials was that Najib and Trump had moved bilateral and personal ties to a higher plane.
“The prime minister made his points clearly and Trump reciprocated positively.
“It has been a very good visit,” said an official.
There are many indications that the US recognised Malaysia as a hugely important partner; Trump’s decision to invite Najib to the White House in his first year of presidency despite criticisms a clear sign.
Najib was not only greeted warmly by Trump, but his assembling of a high-powered team to meet the prime minister and the Malaysian entourage showed the level of regard he had for Najib and Malaysia, said another official.
Apart from Trump, Vice-President Michael Pence, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Deputy Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan, National Security Adviser Lieutenant-General H.R. McMaster, National Economic Council director Gary Cohn and US ambassador to Malaysia Kamala Lakhdhir were on hand to meet Najib and the Malaysian delegation.
In the presence of Malaysian and American journalists, Trump openly welcomed Najib and the Malaysian delegation, saying it was a “great honour” to have them over at the White House and US.
Trump went the extra mile when he broke with convention and accompanied Najib to the door when he was leaving the White House.
Officials said Trump, who normally saw off guests at the main floor, remarked that Najib was “a friend”.
He didn’t stop there; after the White House meeting, Trump tweeted: “It was a great honor to welcome Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak of Malaysia and his distinguished delegation to the White House today!”
Trump also said he hoped to meet Najib again at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York next week.
UNGA runs from Sept 12 to 25.
Page 1 pic: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak being greeted by United States President Donald Trump as he arrives at the White House in Washington DC on Tuesday.