National Development Party member Malai Hassan bin Hj Othman left for the United States yesterday to attend the International Visitor Leadership Programme 'I-Vote 2008'. The two-week programme is scheduled to begin tomorrow and end November 10.

US Ambassador William Todd noted, "I am pleased that Malai Hassan was selected for this I-Vote 2008 programme. I know he has been following the election campaign closely and we are pleased that he will witness the American democratic process in person. I am confident Malai Hassan will find this experience rewarding and educational."

The I-Vote 2008 programme includes close to 100 participants who will be divided into smaller groups.

Malai Hassan will be joining 20 other international participants from countries such as Algeria, Argentina, Croatia, Peru, Maldives, Russia, China, Tanzania, Thailand, Jordan, South Korea, Zimbabwe, Latvia, Germany and Iraq.

The I-Vote 2008 programme was designed with three distinctive goals, which are to understand the dynamics of the US electoral process, to witness the final stages of the 2008 presidential campaign, including participation in election day activities and to examine the impact of US domestic politics on US foreign policy.

The programme presents a unique opportunity for the international visitors to observe the final leg of the elections as the US prepares to elect its 44th President of the United States.

Timed to coincide with the final countdown to election day, the participants will examine political issues surrounding the 2008 elections and gain an appreciation for campaign strategies and tactics and for the historical and constitutional framework of the political process.

The programme will start in Washington DC with an overview of American federalism and US political system.

The participants will then move to 'battleground' states to visit hotly contested or large electoral also known as swing states that will be particularly significant to the outcome of the election.

Malai Hassan's group will be visiting Minnesota.

The participants will have the opportunity to interact with local officials, meet voters, attend political events and visit campaign headquarters.

The final leg of the programme is scheduled to take place in Boston where an 'academic wrap-up' seminar will take place at Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government.

The seminar to be conducted on November 6 will analyse the outcomes of the election and give the participants the opportunity to compare and contrast what they observed in the different states.

Throughout the programme, the 100 participants will also be given the opportunity to visit historic and cultural events and experience the warm home hospitality with American families.