Programs & Events
U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur Celebrates Independence Day
On July 2, U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur celebrated the Independence Day of the United States with a reception at the Renaissance Hotel, one of the leading hotels in Kuala Lumpur. Eight hundred-fifty guests, including Malaysian Ministers, members of the parliament, foreign diplomats, government officials, business leaders, academicians and leaders of religious communities, attended this traditional and colorful event. The celebration was hosted by Ambassador James Keith and the guest of honor for that evening was Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Minister of Plantations Industries and Commodities.
Before his formal entry into the grand ballroom, Ambassador James Keith hosted a brief press conference with reporters from Sin Chew Daily, Bernama, and the Star. During the press conference, Ambassador Keith spoke about the participation of President Obama and Secretary Clinton in the APEC senior leader’s meeting in November and the ASEAN regional forum in late July, and that each of these forums presented an opportunity for increased communication between the US and Asia.
 |
| Ambassador James R. Keith, Professor Heng Pek Hoon of American University and her students at the celebrations in KL. |
The Independence Day reception commenced with the playing of both countries’ national anthem and presentation of colors by members of the US Marine Corps, followed by Ambassador Keith raising a toast to the King and Minister Dompok to the U.S. President. After the toasts, the guests viewed an audio-visual message from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reaffirming that the relationship between the US and South East Asian countries would continue to prosper.