KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Joe Biden on being elected the 46th US president.
Major news networks called the US presidential election in Biden's favour just before 11:30am (1630 GMT), as an insurmountable lead in the state of Pennsylvania took the 77-year-old former Vice President over the top in the state-by-state count that decides the presidency.
"Malaysia has closely followed the electoral process in the US, with much anticipation.
"American voters have decided decisively to endorse Mr Biden as the 46th President of the United States for his leadership and vision," said Muhyiddin in a statement, here, today.
He added that as a fast-growing developing country, Malaysia attaches great importance to its relations with the US.
"The US-Malaysia Comprehensive Partnership continues to be an overarching framework for pro-active, multifaceted and mutually-beneficial collaboration between the two countries".
The Prime Minister said Malaysia looks forward to strengthening the partnership under Biden's leadership, as the international community seeks to address many global challenges, including the disastrous impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I wish President-elect Joe Biden great success in his presidency, and look forward to meeting him personally when an opportunity arises," he said.
Biden and his Democratic party Vice-Presidential running mate Kamala Harris clinched the election after garnering an unassailable 290 electoral votes.
The president-elect is the oldest man to win the presidency – a position he twice sought unsuccessfully during his long political career, before being elected Vice President to Barack Obama in 2008.
Harris, a senator and former California attorney general, will make history as the first Black woman to enter the White House in either of the two top jobs. At 56, she is seen as a leading contender to succeed Biden and try to become the first female US president.