PUTRAJAYA, 20 Jan 2009: Malaysia hopes that the new United States president, Barack Obama, will be able to bring about changes to the super power’s foreign policies and give less emphasis to unilateralism.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the US should take an inclusive approach in dealing with global issues.
“The US should not act alone or consult only the views of a coalition of willing parties,” he told reporters after witnessing the handing over of documents pertaining to the restructuring of Negeri Sembilan water supply services here.
The US, he said, should also strengthen its relations with multilateral bodies such as the United Nations.
“The US should employ a mix of hard and soft power in dealing with international issues,” he said when asked about Malaysia’s hopes for the new president.
Najib said however, that he hoped that Obama would employ soft power more than hard power as opposed to outgoing president George W Bush, whom he said had been using hard power to resolve conflicts.
Obama will be inaugurated as the new US president tonight. — Bernama
Dennis Tan says
Let your foreign minister do his duty or at least allow AAB to speak before you utter you opinion
America or Obama, sir, will provide her/his best mature minds to work to apply to global issues. Not a tunnel vision as practiced by Umno. Please do not even reveal what your inclination will be. People know how to handle themselves. Keep your talk to your backyard with so much to be revealed, or still hidden.
Eric says
It is simply laughable to see Malaysia’s “leaders” give advice to a legitimately elected US president.