By Adib Zalkapli, The Malaysian Insider
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.
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