Malaysia's Deputy PM's Visit Strengthens Ties, Widens Malaysia-UAE Cooperation

By Ahmad Shukran Shaharudin KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 7-9 opens new opportunities in bilateral relations, trade and investment. The co-operation includes the foreign workers issue, which is very important, as both use the service of skilled or unskilled foreign workers. Although it does not use as many foreign workers as UAE which employs five million, Malaysia, which has two million registered foreign workers, also wants to share its experience in handling the issue. "Malaysians working and trading in UAE are much liked by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan. As such, professionals who are here need to give their best in helping to develop UAE," he told Malaysian reporters before returning to Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. There are 6,000 Malaysians in UAE with 2,000 each in Abu Dhabi and Dubai while the rest are in other parts such as Sharjah. They are Malaysia's ambassadors who uphold Malaysia's name and raise the Malaysian flag 'Jalur Gemilang' (Stripes of Glory) well. Proof of Malaysia-UAE cordial relations was revealed when during a meeting with Muhyiddin, Sheikh Mohamed voiced his desire to visit Malaysia again. This was after his last visit to Malaysia in June. In terms of trade, Malaysia and the UAE are expected to boost bilateral trade with the plan to set up the joint trade council while retaining the Dubai-Kuala Lumpur joint trade council. In 2011, UAE was Malaysia's biggest trading partner in the region and export destination in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the second biggest import source from GCC. The trade between Malaysia and UAE had shown an upwards trend, from US$6.1 billion in 2010 to US$6.8 billion in 2011, an increase of 6.4 per cent. "We are committed to take the outcome and the recommendation of today's gathering, members who are not here they are equally important to the economic growth and business transaction between our two countries," said first vice chairman Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce Industry Khalfan Saeed Al Kaabi. During the roundtable meeting between Muhyiddin, captains and players of industry of Malaysia and UAE, Khalfan said the growth had been noticed by both, and continue to grow. The high level of confidence in Malaysian firms was also reflected in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between two Malaysian and UAE companies worth US$22.50 million (RM70 million) and US$10.12 million (RM31.5 million), respectively. Malaysia's presence in UAE was a great honour for the country because Muhyiddin was also officially invited to deliver a keynote address at a 2012 Educational Transformation Summit which was held for the first time in UAE. This is in keeping with the direction of national education, with the launching last week of the National Education Dialogue to transform the national education and decide the education blueprint for the next 10 to 15 years. The deputy prime minister invited all, non-government organisations, parents from all communities and backgrounds who are involved in the issue, to submit their opinions and suggestions for the future of the nation. Muhyiddin's courtesy call on UAE's Education Minister Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al-Qatami is also expected to form a new cooperation in education. -- BERNAMA