SUBANG, April 28 — United States President Barack Obama left Malaysia today after completing a three-day state visit, a historic milestone nearly 50 years after the trip by President Lyndon B. Johnson. 

The Air Force One carrying the American president took off about 10.20am from the Subang military base in the outskirts of the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Among those present to bid him farewell were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.   

Obama is headed for the Philippines, the final stop of his four-nation tour of Asia. He had visited Japan and South Korea, prior to Malaysia. 

In his final engagement, Obama witnessed the signing of several commercial deals between Malaysian and American companies worth US$2 billion (RM6.54 billion) in the aviation, biotechnology and insurance sectors. 

Also present at the event in a Kuala Lumpur hotel today was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. 

Both leaders held bilateral talks in Malaysia’s administrative capital Putrajaya yesterday, which saw both nations agreeing to upgrade their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership. 

The US has also pledged to continue providing Malaysia with whatever search and investigation assistance needed in the mission to locate the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 aircraft. 

Other highlights of Obama’s visit was his town hall session with youth leaders from across Southeast Asia and a visit to the National Mosque. 

The president also attended a state banquet with the Malaysian King, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, at Istana Negara a few hours after his arrival Saturday. — Bernama