<figure id="attachment_3277237" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3277237" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3277237 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/a6571f30-kagan-fmt-070226.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3277237" class="wp-caption-text">Outgoing US ambassador Edgard D Kagan aboard the ETS, travelling from Penang to Kuala Lumpur.</figcaption></figure>
BUTTERWORTH: With the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign underway, outgoing US ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D Kagan has called on fellow Americans to pack their bags and head here, saying the welcoming people and a wealth of attractions make it a must-visit destination.
Kagan, whose tenure will end on Feb 15 and who will retire from the US foreign service, said those visiting the country are in for an unforgettable experience.
&#8220;First and foremost, it is because Malaysians are incredible. They&#8217;re so warm and hospitable,&#8221; he told reporters at the KTMB station here before boarding the ETS back to Kuala Lumpur.
&#8220;Malaysia is magical because of the mixture of cultures, races, religions, and the food &#8211; all that is incredible. But (it is) also the diversity of the landscape, the countryside, the ability to go to extraordinary beaches, to go climb a mountain, to go do some incredible hiking, as well as see amazing wildlife.
&#8220;There&#8217;s incredible stuff in Malaysia, and I think everybody who comes here is going to love it.&#8221;
Kagan recommended Penang and Kuala Lumpur as must-visit destinations, describing the capital as full of “incredible dynamism and variety”.
He also fondly recalled trips across Kelantan, the east coast, Ipoh, Kedah, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.
&#8220;There are just so many amazing places, and I&#8217;ve only scratched the surface. I&#8217;m sure that if I had more time (and) opportunities, I would find even more places that I love,&#8221; he said.
According to Tourism Malaysia data for 2024, the US was ranked 14th in tourist arrivals with 304,880 visitors, a significant increase of 18.4% from 257,533 in 2023.
A fan of Malaysia&#8217;s trains
Kagan praised Malaysia&#8217;s public transport, particularly the ETS, which he frequently used on trips to Penang.
&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t get quite as much attention, perhaps, as it should. In fact, one of my many regrets is that I didn&#8217;t take the Jungle Railway to Bangkok,&#8221; he said.
He described the ETS as reliable, punctual, and fast enough for convenient travel.
&#8221;I feel like travelling by train is a good way to go, and I&#8217;ve always enjoyed doing it when I have been in Malaysia,&#8221; he said.

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