KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s political secretary has called for an end to the “intentional politicking” of Anwar’s visit to Saudi Arabia earlier this week.
Ahmad Farhan Fauzi, who was part of the official entourage for the trip, spoke out against criticism levelled against the prime minister by opposition lawmakers who have pressed Anwar to inform Parliament about the outcome of his visit, after he did not meet with his counterparts there.
“Despite their attempts to portray the visit as a failure and waste of public funds, I would like to emphasise that the visit was very successful.
“It strengthened Putrajaya-Riyadh relations despite (Anwar’s) short period as prime minister,” Farhan said in a statement today.
Urging those with “shortage of substance” and “bankruptcy of issues” to stop their polemics, he said that efforts should instead be redirected towards supporting the unity government’s attempts to strengthen the nation’s image internationally.
Besides that, he said that Anwar’s tight and structured schedule during the trip featured a meeting with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Muslim World League in Mecca.
Anwar also witnessed the signing of several important memoranda of understanding, addressed urgent issues plaguing the Arab and Muslim world, and welcomed the Malaysian community in Saudi Arabia.
Farhan also said that Anwar had to politely decline the Saudi Arabian government’s request to extend his trip to facilitate a meeting with its top leaders due to certain reasons.
“(Anwar) had to decline (the extension request) because he was scheduled to attend the breaking-of-fast ceremony with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah yesterday.
“He is also scheduled to go on an official visit to Cambodia tomorrow, followed by (trips to) Hainan and Beijing on Wednesday to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang,” Farhan said.
Expressing similar sentiments, Community Communication Department Director-General Datuk Mohammad Agus Yusoff highlighted the successes of Anwar’s trips, and called for all parties to stop politicising the matter.
“If (Anwar’s trip) is still seen as unsuccessful, I don’t know what the measure of success is in the eyes of the opposition,” he said in a statement earlier today, noting that Saudi Arabian leaders were among the first foreign figureheads to congratulate Anwar on his appointment as prime minister.
Anwar arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for an official three-day visit. He was accompanied by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, and Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil. – The Vibes, March 26, 2023
