US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday spoke to Malaysia's deputy premier on expanding education and security ties, the latest US effort to build ties with the Muslim-majority nation.

Clinton said relations with Malaysia were on "a positive track" as she met in Washington with Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, which followed up her on rare trip to the Southeast Asian nation in November.

"I look forward to continuing to work closely with the government and people of Malaysia for a better future," she told reporters afterward.

Clinton and Muhyiddin discussed "creating more linkages between the Malaysian and American people through English language instruction exports, and expanding security cooperation," a State Department spokesperson said.

President Barack Obama's administration has put an emphasis on building relationships with Southeast Asia and moderate Muslim-majority nations, seeing them as critical to US interests.

Relations between the United States and Malaysia were rocky during the 22-year tenure of Mahathir Mohamad, a passionate critic of US foreign and economic policy. He retired in 2003 but remains outspoken.

On her visit in November, Clinton raised another irritant in relations as she urged Malaysia to ensure a fair trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. The former deputy premier faces sodomy charges, which he says are politically motivated.

- AFP