HIS Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, left for Saudi Arabia this morning for a state visit from today until Nov 6.
The visit is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Malaysia's bilateral relations with various other countries for the interest and benefit of the people and the nation.
On Nov 6, His Majesty is scheduled to leave for Bahrain, also for a state visit, reported Bernama.
Today's visit marks the first state visit by a Malaysian King to Saudi Arabia since the late Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mu'adzam Shah's visit in 1984.
The special plane carrying His Majesty departed from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) base here at 9am.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof was present to bid farewell to Sultan Ibrahim.
Also present were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, Chief of the Armed Forces General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar and Public Service Department director-general (KPPA) Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz were also present.
Before departing, His Majesty received a Royal Salute from a guard-of-honour mounted by the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment, consisting of four officers and 103 other ranks, led by Major Muhammad Fikri Senan, accompanied by a 21-gun salute and the national anthem, Negaraku.
While in Riyadh, His Majesty is scheduled to hold a four-eye meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, at Al-Yamamah Palace.
Accompanying the King on the visit are his sons - Tunku Temenggong Johor Tunku Idris Iskandar Al-Haj, Tunku Panglima Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj, and Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Al-Haj - along with Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who will serve as Minister-In-Attendance.
Upon completion of the Saudi leg of the visit, Sultan Ibrahim will depart for Bahrain at the invitation of King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa - marking the first state visit since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Bahrain in 1974.
Sultan Ibrahim and King Hamad share a long-standing friendship. His Majesty visited Bahrain in 2017 as Sultan of Johor, while King Hamad attended Sultan Ibrahim's installation ceremony as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong last year.– BERNAMA
