President Lyndon B. Johnson's visit to Malaysia in 1966

48 years ago on Sunday October 30, 1966, the 36th President of America, Lyndon Baines Johnson, visited Kuala Lumpur, home of the Malaysian Federation, as part of his “Asian Odyssey” tour.

The president spoke praises about Malaysia as the geopolitical heart of South East Asia after touring Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines.

“No where in our travels, have we found greater expectations, than here in your own country of Malaysia. For here the promises of a new nation are very bright, here the accomplishments of orderly and evolutionary development are quite real,” he said.

He noted that in 1951, Malaysia was a country of conflict, but it has emerged as a harmonious and developing country.

“Here today we have seen the future and what it can hold for a troubled country, we sight a bright, thriving and modern capital bursting with energy, we see an inspiring new mosque, symbolising your trust in god, we see a beautiful new museum showing your great respect for a very rich past, we see new buildings and industries, that mark your great economic advancement.

“Three of the world’s great peoples have come together here in your great nation. They are people who differ in many ways but who have the will to live together in both peace and harmony and with a sense of nationhood.”

48 years on, the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, has touched down on our soil to focus on a number of bilateral and regional issues.

During his visit, Obama will be visiting the iconic Masjid Negara, which was built in 1922 and was mentioned by Lyndon in his speech.

Obama’s three day visit to Malaysia will be the first time a US President has visited Malaysia in 48 years.

It’s part of his four-nation Asian tour that also encompass Japan, South Korea and Philippines