Obama snubbed Malaysia’s democrats

US President Barack Obama’s visit to Malaysia was disappointing.

Obama did not meet Malaysia’s jailed opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, which was a snub to the millions of Malaysian democratic activists who want an end to the dominance and corruption of Barisan Nasional, Malaysia’s federal ruling political force since independence.

High on the agenda of Obama’s meetings was the secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, which limits the activities governments can regulate, and to impose new intellectual property standards abroad (or investor rights).