The new United States Ambassador Marie T Huhtala today presented her credentials to the acting Yang Dipertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, marking the start of her official duty in Malaysia.

Huhtala met the acting king who is the Sultan of Terengganu at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

During the session, the ambassador thanked the acting king for Malaysia's condolences after the Sept 11 attacks as well as the government's support in the global effort to combat terrorism, said a statement by the US embassy.

She also expressed the US' desire to maintain and enhance its strong ties with Malaysia in various areas such as economics, politics, defence, diplomacy and culture.

The newly appointed US envoy arrived in Malaysia last month but could not present her credentials to the king, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, who is currently resting in Singapore after undergoing a heart surgery there.

Sultan Mizan was appointed the acting king last Monday to execute the duty of the head of state in the absence of Sultan Salahuddin, who is the Sultan of Selangor.

Political freedoms

In July, prior to her appointment, Huhtala told the US Senate that America remained concerned by the case of jailed former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim and the treatment of political dissidents, referring to the two-year detention of six Keadilan leaders and pro-reform activists under the Internal Security Act.

If appointed, Huhtala reportedly said then, she would continue to press the US' views on those incidents and work with Malaysia "to develop modern political freedoms to match its modernising economy".

Ambassador Huhtala's immediate predecessor was B Lynn Pascoe who served for a term of three years.