President Barack Obama is opening the first visit to Malaysia by an American president in nearly half a century, underlining the important role that Southeast Asia plays in the president's efforts to forge deeper ties to the Asia-Pacific region. Excited by the occasion, Obama's hosts are treating him to a truly royal welcome.
After changing into a tuxedo following his arrival Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, Obama was taken to the Istana Negara, the National Palace, where he was the honored guest at a 600-person state dinner in a banquet hall inside the king's massive, gilded residence. Trumpets blared as Obama was escorted into the room and led to a tufted, high-backed chair that sported the royal seal and seemed almost too large for him.
During a brief toast, Obama expressed his deep gratitude to the Malaysian people for including some of his late mother's artwork in a museum exhibit two years ago. He also spoke of Lyndon B. Johnson, the last American president to visit Malaysia. Obama recalled how Johnson had been impressed during his 1966 visit by the "extraordinary vitality and eagerness he saw on the faces of the people of Southeast Asia."
"I'm eager to see that same spirit tomorrow," Obama said.
The king, in his toast, said Obama's visit illustrated "the excellent state of the longstanding relations between our governments."
Earlier Saturday, Obama stepped off of Air Force One and onto a red carpet at the Royal Malaysian Air Base. He was whisked by limousine to Parliament Square, where he was greeted with a 21-gun salute as he watched from beneath a yellow awning, flanked by Malaysia's king and Prime Minister Najib Razak. A military band played the U.S. and Malaysian national anthems — twice — and Obama inspected an elaborate honor guard in crisp green and white before the ceremony ended.
