*EPF310 07/25/01
Text: Ambassador-designate Says Anwar Ibrahim's Case Concerns U.S.
(Nominee for Ambassador to Malaysia Huhtala's July 25 remarks) (730)
While there are many positive aspects to U.S.-Malaysian relations, "the relationship is not perfect," according to Marie T. Huhtala, the nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia.
"We remain deeply concerned by the case of jailed former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the treatment of members of the political opposition," Huhtala said in a prepared statement July 25 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
As Malaysia develops into a high-tech economy, she told the panel, "restrictions on basic rights such as freedom of speech and assembly are incompatible with its long-term goals."
Huhtala said she looks forward to the United States working with Malaysia to help that nation develop the "modern political freedoms to match its modernizing economy."
Following is the text of Huhtala's remarks, as prepared for delivery:
(begin text)
Statement of Marie T. Huhtala
Ambassador-Nominee to Malaysia
before the
Committee on Foreign Relations
United States Senate
July 25, 2001
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I am deeply honored to come before you today as the President's nominee to be the next Ambassador to Malaysia. I am grateful to the President and Secretary Powell for their trust in me as demonstrated by this nomination. If confirmed by the Senate, I will work closely with the Committee, interested members of Congress, and other Americans to represent United States interests in Malaysia.
My husband Eino is with me today. We flew in last night from Thailand, where I have just finished serving as Deputy Chief of Mission at our embassy in Bangkok. Our daughter Karen, a molecular biologist, and son Jorma, an Air Force officer, could not be here today.
Mr. Chairman, I have spent the past 29 years of my life preparing for this assignment. I joined the Foreign Service in 1972, served extensively in Asia -- in Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong -- and worked in Washington as the Director of Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam Affairs. Additionally, I am pleased to note that in the 1980s I was Congressional Relations Officer for the Africa Bureau and studied at the National War College at Fort McNair.
The United States has sustained interests in Malaysia, and throughout Asia. Our relationship with Malaysia is a positive one. Malaysia is our eleventh largest trading partner and an important destination for U.S. electronics and petroleum investment. The Malaysian government's forward-looking policies have encouraged foreign direct investment, high-quality infrastructure, a business-friendly bureaucracy, and, most importantly, a skilled, educated workforce. The U.S. is the largest foreign investor in Malaysia and its largest export market.
Defense ties are close. Our militaries exercise together and U.S. Navy ships make regular port calls. Bilateral cooperation on counter-narcotics and anti-terrorism is excellent.
Malaysia is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has long played a helpful role in this region. It is an active member of regional organizations that are building cooperation in the economic sphere, such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, and in the regional security field, including the ASEAN Regional Forum which is meeting later this week. A distinguished Malaysian diplomat, Tun Razali Ismail, is now serving as a representative of the United Nations Secretary General to resolve the difficult political and human rights situation in Burma. In addition, we have been able to work effectively with the Government of Malaysia, both multilaterally and bilaterally, to address transnational problems such as smuggling, piracy, and the environment.
The relationship is not perfect, however. We remain deeply concerned by the case of jailed former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the treatment of members of the political opposition. As Malaysia develops into a high-tech economy and information society, restrictions on basic rights such as freedom of speech and assembly are incompatible with its long-term goals. This is an area where we can work with Malaysia to develop modern political freedoms to match its modernizing economy.
If confirmed, I look forward to working with you to improve and intensify our relationship with Malaysia.
Mr. Chairman, thank you for your consideration of my nomination. I would be happy to respond to your questions.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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