[PHOTOS] Obama Visits Masjid Negara And Pays Respects At The Warriors' Mausoleum
US President Barack Obama paid his respects at the National Mausoleum on Sunday where Malaysia's second PM Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and other leaders are laid to rest in the compound of the National Mosque.
By Sadho Ram — 27 Apr 2014, 12:32 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
Obama today visited the National Mosque, also known as Masjid Negara, symbolising his approach in reaching out to the Muslim world
United States President Barack Obama taking a moment to show respect as he receives a tour by the National Mosque imam Tan Sri Syaikh Ismail Muhammad (left) and Abdul Rashid Md Isa at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur today
Image via themalaysianinsider.comUnited States President Barack Obama today visited one of Malaysia's iconic monuments, the National Mosque, also known as Masjid Negara, symbolising his approach in reaching out to the Muslim world.
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The 44th American president, who came to power in 2009 and later was re-elected to a second term in 2012, was greeted by National Mosque imam Tan Sri Syaikh Ismail Muhammad and the mosque's committee members upon arrival at 9.40am.
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Donning a dark lounge suit with blue tie, The Us President also took some time to tour the main prayer room of the National Mosque
Obama, in a dark suit, strolled alongside Syaikh Ismail to the prayer hall and made a brief stop at the Warriors' Mausoleum, next to the National Mosque. Also present were Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and US special envoy to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Rashad Hussain.
thestar.com.myAccording to political analyst James Chin, Obama’s visit to the mosque sends a powerful message to the world that the United States is not an enemy of Islam
US President Barack Obama poses with the Grand Imam Tan Sri Syaikh Ismail Muhammad (R) during his visit at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur
Image via thesundaily.my“Many people see the war on terror in Muslim countries as a war on Islam. So he needs to send the message that America is not against the religion. By visiting the mosque, he is sending a powerful and symbolic message that America does not have a problem with Islam. But they have a problem with Islamic terrorists,” said the analyst from Monash University.
He added that Obama’s visit to Malaysia is part of his administration’s push to strengthen ties with strategically important countries in the region. "I think the trip to Malaysia will cover the political, trade and military links America has with Malaysia. But I think the most important thing is because Malaysia is playing an increasing role in ASEAN."
The Star quoted the religious adviser to the prime minister, Tan Sri Dr Abdullah Md Zin, as saying that it was "not common" for the leader of a superpower to include a visit to a mosque in his itinerary
US President Barack Obama (second from left) touring the National Mosque of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur
Image via straitstimes.com"There can be no better way for Obama to honour Islam than by visiting Masjid Negara. It will be interesting to know what he has to say about the mosque and Islam," he had said.
thestar.com.myObama's three-day historic visit to this Southeast Asian nation - part of his four-nation tour of Asia - is a first by a sitting US president in 48 years since President Lyndon B.Johnson's trip back in 1966
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The National Mosque, built in 1965, was designed by a three-person team from the Public Works Department
The mosque was built in 1965 on the site of a church, the Venning Road Brethren Gospel Hall which had stood there since 1922. It’s key features are a 73-metre-high minaret and a 16-pointed star concrete main roof. The mosque underwent major renovations in 1987, and the once-pink concrete roof is now clad in green and blue tiles.
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The Warriors' Mausoleum is where the country's second prime minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, father of current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Tun Hussein Onn (third prime minister) and two former deputy prime ministers, Tun Ghafar Baba and Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, were laid to rest.
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