Malaysian PM’s Visit To Saudi Arabia Strengthens KL-Riyadh Ties - ISIS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 (Bernama) -- The success of the official visit of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to Saudi Arabia which ends today, proves the close relations continue to flourish between Kuala Lumpur and Riyadh. The Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) chief executive Herizal Hazri said among the outcomes of the visit included the 10,000 additional quota for haj which showed Saudi Arabia has high regards for the government and Muslims of Malaysia. “It is not easy to obtain the additional quota. It has to go through very sensitive processes as Saudi Arabia is the Custodian of Makkah which belongs to all Muslims in the world. “The granting of the quota shows our capability and reputation in managing the haj delegation well so far,” he said when interviewed in Bernama TV’s Buletin Bernama today. In the visit, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the processes of pre-departure for haj and umrah from Malaysia. Commenting on the formation of the Saudi Arabia-Malaysia Coordination Council, Herizal said it showed the serious commitment of both governments to forge closer bilateral ties as well as expanding the form of existing cooperation. “The committee can guide ideas of cooperation to be on the right track. If there are constraints, the committee would be the facilitator between the two countries,” he said. Herizal said in the context of Kuala Lumpur-Riyadh relations, both countries could look at the forms of post COVID-19 cooperation to resolve economic problems as well as redeveloping affected industries such as tourism and manufacturing. He said Malaysia and Saudi Arabia have several mechanisms to resolve the issue such as investment in innovation and technology as well as cooperation in vaccine development. He said Malaysia has a good reputation in terms of halal certification and research through the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) as well as high standards in regulating the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Herizal said Malaysia and Saudi Arabia could also step up cooperation in science and technology education in an effort to rebuild the reputation of Islam which had a strong tradition in the field. Discussions between Muhyiddin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud who is also Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister on the last day of the visit also touched on the economy, defence, education, food security, trade and investment. -- BERNAMA