Although he probably wouldn't approve of the term, among Muslim heads of government, and in the context of Malaysian politics, Najib is a liberal. He has recast Malaysia's foreign policy, reached out to its ethnic minorities with a "1 Malaysia" slogan and campaign, and set the economy on a path of reform and hi-tech growth.

He is also a friend of Australia and is coming to visit in March. In a long conversation in his prime ministerial office at Putra Jaya, the lavish government administrative centre near Kuala Lumpur, Najib outlined an impressive and positive agenda of co-operation with Australia. In his view of Australia, and in many other matters, Najib is a stark contrast to his predecessor but one, the legendary Mahathir Mohamed.

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