Lakhdhir awaits US Senate approval
CAPABLE: Ambassador-designate an ‘outstanding’ candidate
THE United States ambassador-designate to Malaysia, Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir, is awaiting approval from the US Senate before taking up her post here.
The US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Edward Kagan expressed hope that Lakhdhir would be confirmed soon and be able to take up her post in the new year.
“She is waiting to get the approval from the Senate. She is an outstandingly capable candidate.
“We are hopeful that she will be confirmed shortly,” he said after meeting representatives of more than 30 American companies operating in the northern region, here, yesterday.
Lakhdhir is a Harvard graduate who once served in Indonesia.
In June, President Barack Obama had announced his intention to nominate the career diplomat for the post, replacing Joseph Y. Yun, who had returned to Washington and was now serving as special representative for North Korea policy and deputy assistant secretary for Korea and Japan.
Earlier, Kagan attended a luncheon and addressed more than 100 people working for American companies at the “Penang Dialogue” event.
The event was hosted by the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce.
Kagan said most American companies operating in Malaysia were reasonably satisfied.
“We see Malaysia continuing to be an attractive destination for these companies to do business,” he said, adding that more transparency and predictability could be employed by the government in promoting the ease of doing business for American firms in the country.
In stressing the need for certain measures announced by the government to be carried out with prior consultation with businesses, Kagan said the full impact of major announcements to businesses must be studied first.
The US exported goods worth US$12.3 billion (RM54.71 billion) to Malaysia last year, while its services exports to Malaysia were estimated at US$2.9 billion in 2014.