WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama, on vacation in Hawaii, tends to golf with buddies and aides, but on Wednesday mixed things up, hitting the links with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

"The president and Prime Minister Najib of Malaysia enjoyed golf together today," a White House official said. "The two leaders took the opportunity to discuss the growing and warming relationship between the United States and Malaysia."

In addition, Obama is looking forward to working with the prime minister in 2015 when Malaysia chairs the Association of South-east Asian Nations, the official said.

Obama, who usually plays at the Marine Corps base in Kaneohe Bay when in Hawaii, made the first visit by a sitting US president to Malaysia in decades last year.