"Hello, my name is Brian McFeeters and I am the new United States ambassador to Malaysia," said the US ambassador-designate to Malaysia in fluent Malay in a two-minute introduction video uploaded by the US Embassy.

His fluency in the Malay language is a clear testament that McFeeters is no stranger to the country and the region, having spent half of his 30-year foreign service career working in Southeast Asia including as the political counsellor of the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur from 2009 to 2011.

The career diplomat is elated to return to Malaysia with his wife Melanie and daughter Sara after leaving the country a decade ago...