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April 27, 2014

Obama faces a delicate balancing act during his Malaysia visit, the first by a sitting US president since 1966. Reuters pic, April 27, 2014.The deep fissures in Malaysias political system are forcing President Barack Obama to spell out the least-defined aspect of his Asia outreach strategy how much Washington will use its renewed focus on the region to press for democratic reforms and human rights, the Washington Post said today.

The US daily said Obama must balance his praise for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak with recognising that Putrajaya has been stifling dissent and limiting press freedom at home.

The Post also quoted former Bar Council chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan as saying that praising Malaysia's democracy would undermine the struggle for human rights.

"What do we want from the president? To see Malaysia for what it is. If they are glowing about our democracy and moderation, they are undermining the work that we do and encouraging them to carry on with this oppressive conduct," she said.

Ambiga and nine other civil society representatives will meet Obama today to talk about issues affecting Malaysia, from religious persecution to electoral transparency.

The daily quoted US national security adviser Ben Rhodes as citing US concerns "at times" over restrictions on civil society.

"Hell have an opportunity to not just speak but also to hear from some of these individual leaders," he said in briefing to reporters aboard Air Force One, which carried the US president.

Rhodes said that by the end of Obama's visit, Washington's stand on Malaysia's human rights would be clear.

"I dont think there will be any question as to where he stands on those issues.

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