KUALA LUMPUR – Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah left for Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today for a five-day special visit.
Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the special visit is at the invitation of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Al Nahyan.
“The main agenda of this special visit involves discussions between the Agong, the crown prince and top leadership of the UAE government regarding their intention to donate 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Malaysia for the purpose of the third phase of the clinical test in the country,” he said in a statement issued by Istana Negara today.
Fadil said the king will also discuss efforts to strengthen and enhance Malaysia-UAE bilateral ties and cooperation in various sectors.
During the special visit, the king is also scheduled to attend a meet-and-greet programme with the Malaysian diaspora, and visit the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Abu Dhabi Covid-19 Vaccination Centre.
Fadil said the Agong’s special visit will be subjected to standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by both the Malaysian and UAE governments.
“In complying with the SOPs, the Agong and all members of the royal delegation have already taken their Covid-19 test four days (96 hours) before their departure to Abu Dhabi, and will take another test upon arrival at the Abu Dhabi International Airport,” he said.
The king and his delegation will also undergo Covid-19 screenings before departing from Abu Dhabi and upon arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Upon his return, the king will undergo a 10-day self-quarantine at Istana Negara as required by the Health Ministry, while members of the delegation will undergo theirs at locations stipulated by the ministry.
Fadil said this special visit is the ruler’s third visit to Abu Dhabi.
The crown prince had visited Malaysia last year at the invitation of the Agong in conjunction with the latter’s installation on July 30.
UAE is Malaysia’s largest trading partner in the Western Asian region, with a bilateral trade value of US$6.42 billion (RM25.9 billion) last year. – The Vibes, December 18, 2020
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