The two leaders, Najib and Obama, also addressed the issue of Malaysians being able to travel to the US without a visa, at the joint press conference in Putrajaya today. - AFP pic, April 27, 2014.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib thanked United States President Barack Obama today for agreeing to consider Malaysia’s participation in the Visa Waiver Programme.
Speaking at the joint press conference held in Putrajaya today, Najib said the US had committed to provide technical briefings on security requirements and information sharing agreements this year, Bernama reported today.
The Visa Waiver programme allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the US without a visa for stays of 90 days or less.
There are currently 37 countries which are enjoying the benefits of the programme, including Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan.
Responding to Najib's comments on the issue of the Visa Waiver programme, Obama said the US had a very clear set of laws and provisions of how countries could qualify for the programme.
However, his team was prepared to work with the Malaysian government to go through various steps relating to the matter, Bernama quoted the president as saying.
"Typically it takes some time. It's not something that happens overnight because we have to make sure that the kind of information sharing, the reporting about lost and stolen passports, terrorist watchlists... that all those pieces are in place before it is facilitated.
"But given the growing and expanding trade that exists and people-to-people relations between Malaysia and the United States, I want to make sure that we can start down the path," he said.
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