I reckon the US government is in a right fix over this matter. A few years ago when then deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim came a-visiting, he was accorded a red carpet welcome and given a 19-gun salute.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad subsequently sacked that deputy who was suspected of being up to no good judging by the welcome accorded by the White House during his visit. Apparently, it was an indication that the sacked deputy was a US agent.

Now, perhaps as a favour to the present deputy who must be eyeing the prime minister's post ever so keenly, the US government gave him the kind of welcome that leaves absolutely no room for any suspicion or insinuation that he is a US stooge.

But still Mahathir blew his top. Heavens! He is indeed a very difficult person to please and the matter of welcoming for Malaysian deputy prime ministers must surely rank as among the most seriously difficult policy issues for the White House and the US State Department.