KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang-PN) has filed an emergency motion for Parliament to discuss Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s trip to Saudi Arabia last week.
Noting that his motion request was received by the Dewan Rakyat speaker’s office earlier this morning, Wan Fayhsal labelled Anwar’s visit as a “failure” and “embarrassment” after he did not meet with his counterparts there.
“According to reports by Saudi Arabian media, King Salman Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the kingdom’s prime minister, were in Jeddah when (Anwar) was there.
“Is it true that the Saudi Arabia government did not want to meet with (Anwar)? Has the relationship between both countries gone cold?” he questioned during a press conference at Parliament here today.
Wan Fayhsal, who is also Machang MP, stressed that Anwar must explain the outcomes of the trip, as matters during the visit have an impact on citizens here, especially regarding the haj quota and sale of palm oil products.
He also called on Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir to issue his statement on the issue, warning: “Don’t repeat diplomatic mistakes that can cause the nation to lose out.”
Besides that, he also urged Anwar to be in the lower House during Question Time so that queries from the opposition, who have been vocal in their criticism of his trip, can be addressed directly.
Yesterday, Anwar’s political secretary Ahmad Farhan Fauzi called for an end to the “intentional politicking” of the Tambun MP’s trip, urging those with “shortage of substance” and “bankruptcy of issues” to stop their polemics.
Farhan explained 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 scheduled events in Malaysia, including a breaking-of-fast ceremony with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Anwar arrived in Saudi Arabia last week for an official three-day visit.
Other than Zambry, Anwar was accompanied by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil. – The Vibes, March 27, 2023
