Kuala Lumpur forward to better relations

Putrajaya: The government is hopeful that Malaysia's relations with the United States will improve under Barack Obama.

Hailing Obama's victory in the United States presidential election, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said just as Americans harboured high hopes, Malaysia was also looking forward to new possibilities in its relations with the US in years to come.

He said Malaysia would continue with its efforts to maintain and strenghten its harmonious and mutually-beneficial relations with the US.

Malaysia, he said, hoped that Obama administration would gove more balanced attention to developing nations in the context of the humanitarian, development and multilateral realtions.

It also hoped that the new administration would be more considerate towards the sovereignty of small states.

"Obama's victory today means a lot not only to Americans but to the entire human race."

"This momentus occasion is seen as one that can bring about charges and improve the current global situation. Malaysia welcomes his victory as a new beacon in the struggle for democracy," Rais said in a statement.

He added as the first African-American president, Obama's victory proved that Americans were able to look beyond race and religious beliefs in electing their leader.

Bernama reported that International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said there woud be high expectations from the international community in terms of foreign, trade and domestic policies with Obama's victory.

"What we would like to see is America playing not only an important role but also a critical role, particularly in trade with developing countries like Malaysia," he said after unveiling the trade figures for September here yesterday.

"Our concern is the current economic crisis," he said, adding that Malaysia was waiting to see whether the United States under Obama would adopt a protectionist policy merely to safeguard its domestics interests such as in employment, investment and businesses.