PM CONGRATULATES OBAMA, HOPES HE'LL BRING POSITIVE CHANGE TO SITUATION IN GULF COUNTRIES

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Wednesday congratulated Barack Obama on his election as the president of the
UnitedStates, and said he should give immediate attention to addressing issues
to bring positive changes to the situations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and
Palestine.

"These are important issues that have been with us for a very long time and
we don't seem to see any solution at all. I am sure the US president has
enormous influence and I hope Obama will use this positive influence to ensure
that these issues will be resolved as soon as possible," he told reporters at a
news conference at Parliament House, here.

Obama, 47, a Democratic senator from Illinois, beat his Republican
opponent,
Senator John McCain of Arizona, to become the 44th president of the United
States Wednesday.

Abdullah said he was sure that Obama would get the support of the global
communities which have always been waiting for such issues to be settled once
and for all.

"I know it is going to be difficult but I think a good effort will be made
by Obama," he said, adding that he hoped Obama would also address the attitude
and approaches to solving some of the problems facing the world today.

Abdullah said the world community also hoped that Obama, the first
African-American president of the United States, would be fair in dealing with
various groups, including Muslims and the Muslim world.

"I think this is important. I am sure he does not want to be biased because
this will project a very negative image of him and not help solve the problems
of today. Those involved in peace-making must be fair and not just support one
side," he said.

Abdullah said he also hoped that Obama would bring positive change to the
affairs of the world as the United States has great influence with regard to
international issues and the conduct of international relations.

On a bilateral basis, Abdullah said, he hoped for a new era of more
friendly
relations between Malaysia and the United States because the United States was
important to Malaysia in many ways.

"But it is also our wish that these relations be maintained on the basis of
full respect for each other as sovereign countries and that all aspects of the
relations be enhanced for the purpose of mutual benefit.

Asked whether Malaysia would also see the emergence of a leader regardless
of race as had happened in the United States, Abdullah said that could happen
anywhere at all.

"It depends on the people. They will determine that. What happened in the
United States was not determined by Washington or any group but by the American
people themselves by election through the democratic process and an election
practice which has existed in the United States for a long time," he said.
-- BERNAMA