Opposition to table motion in Dewan Rakyat on failures of PM's visit to Saudi Arabia

SHAH ALAM - The opposition will table a motion regarding the alleged failure of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to Saudi Arabia in the Dewan Rakyat.

Perikatan Nasional International Affairs Committee chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal claimed the said failure was a great blow to Malaysia.

Moreover, he said with the intervention of the Community Communications Department Director General Datuk Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff also proved that the political crisis was real.

"How can the Prime Minister's Office tell Wisma Putra to inform the media that this is an official visit if they cannot meet the Crown Prince, who is also the Saudi Arabian Prime Minister, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud?

"This is clearly a diplomatic mistake between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, which is our main ally in international politics.

"To the apologists (those who defend) the Malaysia Madani Government, if you want to know what kind of official state visit, you can learn from the Pagoh MP’s visit when he visited Saudi Arabia in 2021," he said in a post on Sunday.

Media reported that Anwar was scheduled to hold an official visit for the first time to Saudi Arabia for three days starting last Wednesday.

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, who is also the Bersatu Armada chief, said former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s visit was also welcomed by the Saudi Arabian Prime Minister with red carpet protocols.

He further added that Muhyiddin also held meetings with Crown Prince Mohammed at Istana al-Yamamah, Riyadh apart from being given the honour to enter Kaaba as previously received by Malaysian Prime Ministers.

"The big and main announcements regarding Malaysia-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations was when Muhyiddin met with the Saudi Arabian government represented by the Prince. We received 10,000 additional Hajj quotas and immigration facilities for our people to perform Umrah and Hajj.

"While Saudi Arabia agreed in the future to increase Malaysia's palm oil imports from 318,000 tons amounting to RM900 million to 500,000 tons," he explained.

He added that Muhyiddin's actions furthered the relationship and increased the advantages between the two nations, which is what an official journey to the country entailed.

"And it's not that the Prime Minister has never received official treatment like he did in Turkey, Philippines, and Indonesia before. But in Saudi Arabia this happens. Why is it like this?” he questioned.