Ambassador JJ Continues Mission To Strengthen Malaysia-US Ties

By Salmy Hashim WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Named "Malaysia's Best Salesman" by Washington’s leading business group, Malaysia's Ambassador to the United States Dr Jamaludin Jarjis can look back with pride at his very busy two-year tenure in Washington. He facilitated closer diplomatic, security, trade and educational relations between Malaysia and the United States. The diplomatic schedule in Washington had to be balanced with responsibilities back home. It is hard to catch up with simply JJ, as he is known here, as he makes the 22-hour trip home to debate with fellow members of the parliament, meet his constituents in Rompin, Pahang, catch up with the prime minister and other ministers in Kuala Lumpur, and fly back to Washington to resume his duties as an ambassador -- all these activities, at times, within a span of 10 days. "It seems that everywhere I look, JJ is there! I was in KL -- and he was there, and when I returned -- he's here," said Robert Scher, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia at the Pentagon. Ambassador JJ worked with Scher to develop closer security dialogue between the two countries. During his tenure in Washington, JJ whizzed through the corridors of power -- the White House, the State Department and the Congress -- in his mission to promote Malaysia to key officials, whose schedules are filled to the brim addressing developments in the Middle East, North Korea, and Europe. Furthermore, Ambassador JJ called attention to Malaysia despite the fact that most policymakers and businessmen were looking East – mainly towards China. He persuaded Malaysian ministers of international trade and industry, education, finance, defence and ministers in the Prime Minister's Department to travel and see their counterparts in Washington in order to deepen the dialogue and discuss opportunities for cooperation. Likewise, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Defence Secretary Robert Gates and a host of other senior officials travelled to Kuala Lumpur -- making it a very busy two years of diplomacy. The relationship has spurred significant milestones in the history of bilateral relationship between the two countries, including Malaysia’s sending of non-combat military personnel to Afghanistan to support international efforts, and tightening of the nuclear non-proliferation regime through the passage of the Strategic Trade Act 2010 (STA). Even Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell was resolute in recognizing Malaysia as the country in which U.S. relations improved the most in Asia in 2010. Two official meetings between Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and President Barack Obama were the breakthroughs of the growing friendship between the two countries. The official talks took place during the 2010 Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C. and last November during the Asean Summit in Bali. The leaders discussed issues of concern to the two countries. JJ has been particularly proud that the frank discussions between the two leaders have led to the development of a volunteer programme inspired by the Peace Corps. The new programme brings opportunities for thousands of American students to live and teach English in Malaysia. At the recent farewell for JJ, Assistant US Trade Representative (USTR) for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Barbara Weisel, complemented JJ for his visionary leadership on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. TPP is a major international trade initiative that covers 40 per cent of global trade flows and is expected to boost US-Asia Pacific trade manifold in the future. Malaysians in the U.S. were sometimes disappointed that due to the frequent travels back home, JJ often missed a few events at the embassy. However, JJ has always surprised the guests at the Aidilfitri celebration at the embassy by appearing in his "Baju Melayu" attire and playfully handing out "duit raya" (Aidilfitri cash gifts) to the long line of children. Meanwhile, the ambassador’s wife, Dr Kalsom Ismail, has also experienced an eventful two years in Washington. She has been involved in a number of diplomatic and charitable activities. For example, she has been active with the Asean Women's Circle, which consists of embassy first ladies representing the Asean region. Dr Kalsom also conducted charity work to benefit disadvantaged children in the Washington area. She has persuaded members of the Perwakilan, an association of Malaysian ladies in Washington, to serve soup at "Martha's Table," a soup kitchen for the homeless during their recent trip to the city. In addition, the group worked with several schools to help children with disabilities. "These are wonderful ideas that I would like to bring home with me and introduce in Malaysia," said Dr Kalsom at a tea party for Washington’s influential ladies held at the embassy to ring in the New Year. JJ’s appointment as Malaysia’s special envoy to the U.S. with Cabinet ranking means that the power couple will remain deeply committed to steering the diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Malaysia in a positive direction. -- BERNAMA