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Questions continue to be raised about Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Saudi Arabia last month, with think tank Iris Institute calling it strange that the prime minister was not greeted by the kingdom’s highest leaders.
Ahmad Israa Syed Ibrahim, whose organisation brings together researchers in the field of international relations, said Malaysia and Saudi Arabia had always enjoyed good bilateral ties.
“When such a thing happens, it means there were problems so there should be a good explanation,” he said.
“This is what many find confusing. It’s impossible that Wisma Putra did not know the schedule of the leaders in the country of visit. It’s a matter of protocol and duty to have all of the details ironed out before the prime minister set foot in that country.”
Questions continue to be raised about Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Saudi Arabia last month, with think tank Iris Institute calling it strange that the prime minister was not greeted by the kingdom’s highest leaders.
Ahmad Israa Syed Ibrahim, whose organisation brings together researchers in the field of international relations, said Malaysia and Saudi Arabia had always enjoyed good bilateral ties.
As Malaysia’s top leader, he said, Anwar should have been welcomed by his counterparts instead of officials of lower rank.
“When Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister in 2019, even Maszlee Malik, who was the education minister at the time, was able to meet with King Salman to discuss relationships in the field of education,” he said.
“Malaysia and Saudi Arabia have many strategic ties in matters such as oil, the management of haj pilgrims and so on.
“But when Anwar went, he didn’t seem to discuss many of these matters and he didn’t meet with the king.”
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Questions were raised after Anwar returned from his official visit to Saudi Arabia without meeting either King Salman Abdul Aziz or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
A Bernama report said the meeting could not take place because the crown prince had a change of plans ahead of the Ramadan month.
Anwar himself expressed regret that he had been unable to meet Mohammed, but was said to have turned down a request by Saudi officials to extend his stay so that a meeting with the crown prince could take place.
Wisma Putra later said that it had received diplomatic notes confirming Anwar’s visit as well as a meeting with the two leaders.
“They clearly stated that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomed the visit, including the performance of the umrah in Mecca and the pilgrimage in Madinah,” it said.
Syed Ahmad said while Anwar’s subsequent visits to other countries were seen as a success, the prime minister should still explain his trip to Saudi Arabia.
“When such a thing happens, it means there were problems so there should be a good explanation,” he said.
“This is what many find confusing. It’s impossible that Wisma Putra did not know the schedule of the leaders in the country of visit. It’s a matter of protocol and duty to have all of the details ironed out before the prime minister set foot in that country.”
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