US govt invites Malaysian representative to discuss Visa Exemption Program

The United States government is now waiting for the arrival of a Malaysian government representative to hold further talks on the Visa Exemption Program after it had been agreed upon by US President Barack Obama during his visit to Malaysia recently.

Malaysia's special envoy to the United States, Tan Sri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis said the US government had suggested that Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi leads the visit to the US for this purpose.

"I have met with members of the (US) administration there, they certainly welcome and look forward to the efforts announced by the American President that an initiative and method could be created to exempt Malaysian nationals from obtaining the visa to visit America," he said.

Jamaluddin disclosed this to reporters after attending a breaking of fast gathering, here Saturday night.

He said the US government also requested that the visit could include several government officials such as those from the Immigration Department to initiate the process to determine the most suitable method so that Malaysian nationals who wished to go to America would be granted visa exemption.

The US Visa Exemption Program allows citizens of participating countries to enter the US without visa for a period of 90 days or less.

So far, 37 countries are participating in the program. Among countries in the Asian region participating in the program are Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan.