Malaysia wished "Selamat Datang" or "Welcome" in Malay to
United States President Barack Obama as it rolled out the red carpet at
an official welcoming ceremony for the American leader.
Obama had earlier flown into Kuala Lumpur to begin a three-day state visit to this Southeast Asian nation of 30 million people.
He was joined at the event at the hill-top Parliament Building in the
Malaysian capital by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah.
Also present were Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
After the national anthems of both countries were played, Obama
inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by 107 officers and men from the
First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment led by Major Amriza Mohd
Asshari.
The visit to Malaysia, part of Obama's four-nation tour of Asia, is a
first by a sitting US president in 48 years since President Lyndon B
Johnson's trip in 1966.
Obama had visited Japan and South Korea. The final leg of his Asian trip is the Philippines.
The ceremony at the Parliament Square was also marked by a 21-gun salute.
Cabinet ministers were later introduced to the visiting president during
the occasion which was also attended by members of the diplomatic
corps.
Obama will head to Malaysia's federal administrative capital Putrajaya
on Sunday for talks with Najib before going to nearby Cyberjaya for the
launch of the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creative Centre (MaGIC)
which will provide a platform for entrepreneurs to expand their wings.
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