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DATE: October 17, 2001
TO: US-Malaysia Business Committee Members FROM: Remy Nathan Director, Malaysia Affairs US-ASEAN Business Council Tel: (202) 416-6707 Fax: (202) 289-0519 E-Mail: remy@usasean.org RE: INFO: Malaysia Update 1. Ambassador Huhtala presents credentials 2. Bush-Mahathir Meeting at APEC confirmed 3. Report on USTR Zoellick's visit to Malaysia 4. Transcript of Interview with Malaysian Prime Minister 5. INVITE: 10/20/01 Malaysia-US Private Sector Dialogue at APEC in Shanghai 6. INVITE: November 8-9 Malaysia Conference at Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington, D.C. 1. Ambassador Huhtala presents credentials The new United States Ambassador to Malaysia Marie T. Huhtala presented her credentials to the Acting Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin on Wednesday. Ambassador Huhtala conveyed to Sultan Mizan gratitude for Malaysia's condolences to the American government and people following the Sept 11 attacks in New York and Washington, as well as appreciation for Kuala Lumpur's continued support in the global efforts to combat terrorism. She also expressed America's desire to maintain and enhance the strong economic, political, defense, diplomatic and cultural ties between Malaysia and the US. The Council has worked with Ambassador Huhtala in the past in her capacity as Director of the Office of Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam Affairs, and most recently as Deputy Chief of Mission in Thailand. Ambassador Huhtala assumes her post at a time when, despite the media reports on possible anthrax spores in letters from Malaysia and extremist protests against the US outside the Embassy, we believe there is an excellent opportunity for US Malaysia relations to improve considerably. We look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship with Ambassador Huhtala and her staff at US Embassy Kuala Lumpur. 2. Bush-Mahathir Meeting at APEC Confirmed A spokesman for the Prime Minister's Department confirmed Tuesday that Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will hold a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush on the fringes of this weekend's Asian Pacific Economic Co-operation meeting in Shanghai. The US-ASEAN Business Council is seeking out members who wish to join a call for President Bush to invite Prime Minister Mahathir to visit the US in early 2002. Please refer your questions and responses on this matter to the Council's Director of Malaysian Affairs, Remy Nathan, using the contact information provided above. 3. Report on USTR Zoellick's visit to Malaysia US Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick, the principal trade policy adviser and chief trade negotiator for the Bush administration, visited Malaysia on Monday, October 15, on his way to the APEC Dialogue in Shanghai. While in Malaysia, Zoellick met with Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, Minister of Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Syed Hamid. Zoellick conveyed to Prime Minister Mahathir President Bush's appreciation for both condolences sent after the September 11 attacks and Malaysia's support for the US since the attacks despite "the internal challenges and tensions it has to deal with, which makes its support more meaningful." At a press conference, Zoellick further added that although the Malaysian government has criticized US air strikes in Afghanistan, the US-Malaysia trade relationship would not be affected and would continue to be strong. "Our trade ties are based on close economic relationships. The support we received in many areas will only strengthen the nature of our relationship." Zoellick added that the US views Malaysia as an Islamic country which could serve as a role model for international leadership, progress, religious tolerance, and economic development. 4. Transcript of 10/11 Interview with Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad discussed the economic, political and security implications of the terrorist attacks in America on Sept 11 in a special interview on Malaysian television. A transcript of this interview can be found at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2001/10/15/latest/1438Special in&sec=latest. More information on these issues can be found updated daily on the Council's Malaysia page: www.us-asean.org/malaysia.asp. 5. INVITE: 10/20/01 Malaysia-US Private Sector Dialogue at APEC in Shanghai The Council has arranged for a private sector dialogue with key Malaysian business representatives that will be attending the APEC meetings in Shanghai. This event will be held in the Crystal 3 Room of the Grand Hyatt Pudong Hotel from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, October 20. Space is limited and if you are interested in in participating in this event, please respond via e-Mail to this note or let either Remy Nathan (remy@usasean.org) or Ken Richeson (kricheson@usasean.org) know by Thursday morning. The Malaysian participants in this meeting are: 1. Mirzan Mahathir - Executive Chairman, Konsortium Logistik 2. General Tan Sri Hashim Ali - former Chief of Malaysian Armed Forces (equivalent to Chairman, US Joint Chiefs of Staff) 3. Datuk Amirsham Aziz - CEO, Malayan Banking (Maybank) 4. Dato' Dr. Jamaluddin Jarjis - Chairman, Tenaga Nasional 5. Tengku Mahaleel - CEO, Proton (ABAC Member) 6. Datuk Shahril Shamsuddin - President/CEO, Sapura 7. Tan Sri Azman Hashim - Chairman, Arab-Malaysian Banking Group (ABAC Member) 8. Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew - Managing Director, Country Heights Holdings 6. INVITE: November 8-9 Malaysia Conference at Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington, D.C. "Post-Crisis Malaysia: The Economic and Political Aftermath" - November 8-9 in Washington, D.C. Members of the US-Malaysia Business Committee who would like to receive an official invitation to attend this program, as well as a copy of the preliminary agenda, should RSVP to Malaysia Committee Director Remy Nathan using the contact information provided above no later than close of business Friday, Oct. 26. A short description of the conference follows: "A few years ago Malaysia was considered an economic and political success story. With political stability and impressive economic growth, Malaysia was seen as a model for other developing countries and an attractive location for foreign capital. In the wake of the 1997 financial crisis and the subsequent political crisis between Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his former Deputy Anwar Ibrahim, political and economic conditions in Malaysia changed; economic growth slowed, political uncertainty increased and the relationship between Malaysia's traditional ally, the United States, became increasingly strained. By drawing on experts and practitioners, this conference will examine the effects of the financial crisis on Malaysian politics, the business climate and US-Malaysia relations. In six hour-and-a-half panels, speakers will discuss and evaluate the consequences of new domestic and international conditions for Malaysian citizens, foreign investors and US and Malaysian policy-makers. Special attention will center on the effects of September 11th on Malaysia and US-Malaysia relations. This forum is designed to promote a better understanding of contemporary Malaysia in the United States and generate dialogue among persons involved in policy-making and investment tied to Malaysia. The conference incorporates a wide variety of perspectives, particularly Malaysian views. The conference will generate a report that will be widely circulated among participants and the business and policy-making community at large." ************************************************************************ ************************************************* If you need assistance in the region, please contact: US-ASEAN Business Council, Singapore Stephen Pattillo Tel: [65] 339-8885 Fax: [65] 339-1982 E-Mail: srpasean@pacific.net.sg US-ASEAN Business Council, Philippines Philip Gielczyk Tel: [632] 895-4333 Fax: [632] 895-3007 E-Mail: pgielczyk@pacific.net.ph US-ASEAN Business Council, Indonesia David Hutagalung Tel: [6221] 573-0407 Fax: [6221] 574-4981 E-Mail: dhutagalung@usasean.org For more information on Malaysia visit our website: www.us-asean.org/malaysia.htm
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