KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be undertaking a four-day official visit to Saudi Arabia from 6 to 9 March, followed by an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 9 to 11 March.
Details provided by the Malaysian Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) said that this would be Muhyiddin's first official visit to the two countries since assuming office on March 1, 2020.
The visit to Saudi Arabia is on the invitation extended in April 2020 by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
"Muhyiddin has the honour of being the first foreign head of government to be invited by King Salman following the historic Al Ula Conference on Jan 5, 2021," said Wisma Putra in a statement on Friday.
The prime minister's official programme will take place at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on March 9, which includes an official welcoming ceremony, virtual audience with King Salman, and meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
The visit will not only provide an opportunity for both sides to strengthen traditional areas of cooperation, but also forge greater partnership in new areas, such as new technology and innovation, as well as energy collaboration.
The ongoing reorientation of the Saudi economy, driven by the Kingdom's Vision 2030, has significantly expanded the scope of opportunities for Malaysia-Saudi cooperation.
During the visit, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia are expected to discuss efforts to further strengthen the existing bilateral ties and explore new areas of cooperation with the view of elevating the partnership, including the establishment of a High Level Strategic Committee (HLSC) at the foreign ministers' level.
Both countries will also discuss a proposal for the establishment of the Malaysia-Saudi Tech Innovation Centre which will provide a platform to encourage collaboration in the development of smart cities, artificial intelligence, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0).
The other proposals include the formalisation of 'Mecca Road Service' initiative which will ease and simplify the pre-clearance process for Malaysian hajj and umrah pilgrims, such as airport arrangements, visa and passport checking, customs procedures, and other logistical arrangements.
The official hajj quota as well as hajj and umrah procedures for Malaysian pilgrims are also expected to be discussed during the visit.
The visit will also provide Malaysia the opportunity to explore new markets for palm oil exports to Saudi Arabia as well as Middle East and African regions and also strengthen cooperation in the halal industry.
Wisma Putra noted that Muhyiddin will also perform the umrah in Makkah, followed by ziarah in Madinah from March 6 to 8 on the invitation of King Salman.
Meanwhile, on Muhyiddin's official visit to UAE, the statement said both sides will discuss several proposals to further strengthen the existing bilateral ties and explore new areas of cooperation with the view of elevating the partnership to greater heights.
These include collaboration in the post-pandemic recovery phase through technology, innovation, and economic partnership.
Both countries will also discuss the proposal of the establishment of an International Food Security Coalition (IFSC) with the primary objective of building greater resilience and robustness in the global food supply chains.
The proposal to establish the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Chair at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia (ISIS) to promote greater understanding and contact between the two countries while promoting the ideals of good governance, environmental responsibility and interfaith tolerance will also be discussed.
Muhyiddin's official programme in UAE will take place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on March 10, which includes meetings with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Throughout the visit, Wisma Putra pointed out the Malaysian delegation will be subjected to strict COVID-19 preventative standard operating procedures (SOPs) as agreed upon by health authorities of Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Fri Mar 05 2021
This would be Muhyiddin's first official visit to the two countries since assuming office on March 1, 2020.
Turkiye sertai Afrika Selatan tuduh Israel di ICJ
Turkiye akan menyerahkan pengisytiharan campur tangan rasmi kepada ICJ dengan objektif membantu mempercepatkan tindakan ke atas Israel.
Asmaa berjalan kaki berjam lamanya demi roti
Situasi di Gaza jauh berbeza dengan tempat-tempat lain. Bangunan musnah, ditambah ketiadaan sumber asas - tempat tinggal, bekalan air serta makanan...pastinya terlintas di fikiran bagaimana kehidupan seharian mereka di saat nyawa sentiasa menjadi ancaman. Menyelami kehidupan masyarakat Palestin di Gaza, ada yang terpaksa berjalan berjam-jam lamanya ke satu tempat untuk mendapatkan alas perut buat keluarga.
'Puluhan ribu gugur terkena mesin perang Zionis'
Masa yang sepatutnya diguna untuk meraikan sambutan Hari Pekerja Sedunia diganti dengan himpunan untuk menunjukkan tanda bersolidariti dengan rakyat Palestin. Itu yang berlaku di Tunisia yang mana ribuan rakyatnya berhimpun di ibu negara Tunis sebagai tanda sokongan terhadap penduduk Gaza dengan memanggil himpunan sebagai 'May Day'.
Lebuh raya runtuh, 24 maut
Menurut CCTV, pihak berkuasa China menghantar kira-kira 500 anggota penyelamat ke lokasi insiden.
TPM yakin produktiviti akan meningkat seiring kenaikan gaji
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yakin produktiviti dan prestasi penjawat awam akan dilipatgandakan seiring dengan keputusan Kerajaan menaikkan gaji kumpulan itu melebihi 13% bermula 1 Disember ini.
Ancaman bom palsu cetus panik di 100 sekolah di India
Ancaman bom palsu telah mencetuskan panik di sekolah di ibu negara India pada pagi Rabu dengan ibu bapa bergegas membawa pulang anak-anak mereka.
Anak muda bangkit gesa pemimpin buat pendirian tetap
Anak muda mula menunjukkan semangat kebangkitan tatkala dunia masih celaru untuk menghentikan kehilangan nyawa berterusan rakyat Palestin di Gaza. Suara yang diketepi diakhiri dengan protes besar-besar yang menjadi polemik dalam kalangan mahasiswa di Amerika Syarikat ketika ini.
Migran banjiri 'Mount Street' dipindah ke penempatan baharu
200 buah khemah yang digunakan imigran di bandar Dublin dirampas dan dibersihkan dari pemandangan ibu negara Ireland pada pagi Rabu. Imigran yang berlindung di situ kemudian ditempatkan di pusat yang telah disediakan.
TPM yakin produktiviti akan meningkat seiring kenaikan gaji
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yakin produktiviti dan prestasi penjawat awam akan dilipatgandakan seiring dengan keputusan Kerajaan menaikkan gaji kumpulan itu melebihi 13% bermula 1 Disember ini.
Henti pusing modal lama - Ahmad Zahid
Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi memberi amaran kepada semua pihak untuk tidak 'memusing' modal lama sepanjang berkempen pada Pilihan Raya Kecil Kuala Kubu Baharu yang sedang berlangsung, semata-mata untuk mencalarkan imej UMNO dan Barisan Nasional.
Right to Hire, No Right to Fire
The right to fire a Prime Minister by Members of Parliament can actually present itself via the YDP Agong, says Azalina Othman.
Bills to televise court proceedings tabled for first reading
Subsection 69 (1) of the Act was also proposed to be amended to allow receiving statements via remote communication technology.
Beware of the Fitch rating that can hurl Malaysia into a ditch
Credit rating agencies cannot be trusted, as the key navigator to steer the macro or micro economy of Malaysia, says Dr Rais.
COVID-19: RM4.5 billion fund to help small, medium enterprises and micro entrepreneurs
Prime Minister said the allocation would be channelled through five key initiatives.
Self-service laundrettes not allowed to operate
The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) said the ban is to prevent the crowd from gathering.
Kimanis Memilih: It's actually a battle between Bung Moktar and Shafie Apdal
Both of them are now seen as -two godfathers of Sabah- who are in a marathon of winning the Sabahans hearts.
Britain should break with Europe on palm oil
A fresh attitude toward palm oil, unencumbered by influential special-interest groups, could lead to even better trade terms between the U.K. and the region than it currently enjoys.
The Nintendo of Islamophobia
The late Edward Said, author of the "Orientalism-, in reaction to Gulf War I, once averred that the CNN footage of the war in Iraq amounted to a "Nintendo Game".
PM Mahathir confers lifetime achievement award at Petronas SIC-MAM Awards
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contributions and undying support towards national motorsports industry.
Malaysia propose to Singapore for both to cease from sending assets in boundary issue
Malaysia has proposed to Singapore for both countries to cease and desist from sending assets into the disputed area of Tuas, effective 0000 hours on Dec 8.