By Adib Zalkapli
SEPANG, May 17 — Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman said today the late congratulatory message from the United States on the appointment of Datuk Seri Najib Razak as prime minister was not a major issue and may be caused by President Barack Obama's busy schedule.
Obama's congratulatory message came over a month after Najib was sworn in.
“Maybe President Obama was busy; I do not know the real reason. I believe a phone call was made earlier,” Anifah told reporters here on his return from an official trip to Washington where he had talks with his US counterpart.
He also said that US secretary of state Hillary Clinton had called him soon after Najib was appointed prime minister.
“Secretary Clinton had called me when I was in Jakarta to convey her congratulatory message,” said Anifah.
On the appointment of the Malaysian ambassador to Washington, Anifah said the matter was not discussed during his meeting with Clinton.
“When the time comes you will know,” he said when asked to confirm reports that Datuk Jamaluddin Jarjis would be appointed ambassador to the United States.
Anifah described his meeting with Clinton as a success.
He said that he had expressed Malaysia's hope for the return of two Malaysians detained at Guantanamo Bay, after the US State Department completed its review.
“She told me that we will be informed about it as soon as possible,” said Anifah.
The two Malaysians — Mohd Farik Amin and Mohammed Nazir Lep — are being held at Guantanamo Bay for alleged involvement in the Jemaah Islamiah and Al-Qaeda militant groups since 2003.

written by perakian, May 17, 2009
written by lengcai, May 17, 2009
written by Leong Yook Kong, May 17, 2009
written by OmegaMan, May 17, 2009
written by look at the date, May 17, 2009
written by max, May 17, 2009
written by Disgusted, May 17, 2009
Hanifa was appointed FM more than a week after Najib became PM. Which meant the call was made after 1 week....if there was a called immediately upon Hanifa's appointment. Compare this to India's Manoham Singh of Congress Party who received a congratulatory even before vote counting is completed.
This is how US viewed Malaysia....tainted democracy.
written by H1N1, May 17, 2009
When a party is base on lies to Cheat , Fool, Deceive with Twisted facts and Figure to its own citizen .... its supporters must be Big Liar.
written by Gary, May 17, 2009
To be perfectly honest, who gives a crap about Najib anyway? Maybe his cronies?
written by saddam, May 17, 2009
2. Secondly, you have just disgraced the country more by claiming that you are being offered positions and that some people are less democratic la. As a diplomat, the intent of THAT press conference is to talk about MY and US. If you want to get the pack of foreign journalists, call for another. That is courtesy.
3. The Star wrote today that Obama "applouds" Najib's appointment. How low can you guys get?
It is a diplomatic snub and the media wants to spin it.
written by lkh, May 17, 2009
Of course, he has gotten less respected by Obama. Suddenly, after over 40 days, a man came over to tell him through his secretary, that he had forgot to congratulate Malaysian new PM. After hearing it, he sent his late congratulation letter over to Malaysia immediately. But it is after 44 days. Better than nothing. Since our man had explained that Obama was busy. He might not think to capture who was he. Accidentally Obama missed out of Najib.
written by Durian Besar, May 17, 2009
Some more want to give excuses, the President clearly wouldn't want to be related to you-kn0w-what...
written by dewamuzik, May 17, 2009
written by ThrowShit, May 17, 2009
FACT !!! Not Ordinary Murder - C4, 2 Special Branch policemen & an influential Political Analyst !!!
How could such extraordinary Murder took place without a Powerful hands behind !!!
The brutal killings took place when the men is still DPM, imaging what he could do when he is now PM !!!
written by Lucius, May 17, 2009
written by Siakap senohong, gelama ikan duri. Bercakap bohong, lama lama mencuri (duit rakyat)!, May 17, 2009
Are you Clinton's childhood friend that she called you even before you were appointed? Gosh.. this man is a BIG LIAR...No wonder he got the job!
written by MI Daily Reader, May 17, 2009
...Either that or Obama wanted to be sure there wasn't going to be a change in Premiership (i.e. the Perak debacle). :)
...Or maybe President Obama finally made it to the very BOTTOM of his 1001 things to do list.
All in all, it would have been less embarrassing for Malaysia if this had not made the news circuit.
written by seberang, May 17, 2009
written by bing, May 17, 2009
written by anifa-fa-faak, May 17, 2009
written by Positive Thinker, May 17, 2009
Anifah has gone to USA for no apparent reasons .In fact i suspect that this Anifah was sent to prester for one from Obama .Finally, Anifah could present this ego -boosting congratulatory message to pm to claim a big credit .Could he be going for DPM? Muhiddin beware! MY QUESTION IS WHETHER ANYTHING BEEN EXCHANGED FOR THE MESSAGE?
written by lalaland, May 17, 2009
Clinton replied.................the one who lies almost every day...
written by Aries, May 18, 2009
Also, we can double check and confirm whether what Anifah said was factually correct, correct and correct.
Really, it is all too MUCH ADO OVER NOTHING!
What is a minister doing trying to second or, even perhaps, third guess what Obama, or just anybody else for that matter, does or does not do? Doesn't the minister have anything urgent and important to do?
Is Anifah first duty to look into the "congratulatory oversight" from the ever important and powerful office of the President of the USA? Perhaps it makes one feels good and that it's better late than never?
Mind-numbing and inconsequential international relations indeed. Can't we do better?
written by Rat Killer, May 18, 2009
Do you really believe that a young, energetic, smart and charismatic US President who is also a Harvard-trained lawyer can be so forgetful over such state's matter? His response on the choice of pet dog for White House is far much better than his response on someone from Malaysia. That really give us some interesting hints about what he is thinking about in his mind. Maybe he is too shock during the past 44 days to believe that Malaysia has fallen to such low level in choosing someone who is linked to brutal murder case, high profile corruption case and utter disrespect for The Principle of Separation of Powers to be PM. Such ridiculous things are just unthinkable in US!!!!! After All, the Land of the Statue of Liberty is a place where Justice, Democracy and the Principle of the Separation of Powers must be firmly upheld with no compromise!!!!!! Malaysia under a rotten BN regime will never learn this!!!!!!!!!!!
written by anak malaysia, May 18, 2009
written by MightyDonkeyKong, May 18, 2009
written by Asam Pedas, May 18, 2009
written by simon li, May 18, 2009
But he did have ample time to walk his new dog, the four-legged one, which was born neither in a submarine nor mongolia. That's humiliating. For the two-legged one, that is.
All this wouldn't have mattered if the fake sabahan had not rubbed salt in Najis' pinky lips by reminding everyone that obama wasn't too busy doing a lot of other things including walking his dog and, of course, going to the loo.
written by ..., May 18, 2009
or maybe Najib was too busy with his 1 Malaysia n Perak crisis that he forgot to send Anifah to inform the US goverment that now he is the Malaysian new PM?? hahaha..
written by Gaga, May 18, 2009
written by a conerned malaysian, May 18, 2009
published it and invited more sharp criticism, look stupid and untenable. too bad!
written by positive thinker, May 18, 2009
written by Charlie's Angels, May 18, 2009
The fact it took 44 days after the Najib's appointment to send the message is surely a measure of our low standing among the international community.
written by H1N1 Virus, May 18, 2009
Obama would not dare telephone a guy implicated in murder or Grap Assembly Speaker out in a very uncivilised manners.
The Virus would travel vis Telephone Lines to Washington... Ha Ha !!!
written by Jason, May 18, 2009
The fact that the US took 44 days to send a congratulatory message means it is a diplomatic way to show you, Anifah, and your boss, Najib, their middle finger. You are a total diplomatic novice and not fit to be a Foreign Minister.
written by ThrowShit, May 18, 2009
FACT !!! Not Ordinary Murder - C4, 2 Special Branch policemen & an influential Political Analyst !!!
How could such extraordinary Murder took place without a Powerful hands behind !!!
The brutal killings took place when the men is still DPM, imaging what he could do when he is now PM !!!




