PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional MPs and the supporters of Former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have raised many questions and critics as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim concluded his three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia Friday (March 24) without meeting his host Mohammed Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud, who is the Prime Minister-cum-Crown Prince and King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
“The Prime Minister is requested to explain this in the Dewan Rakyat,” says the International Affairs Committee of Perikatan MPs head, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.
He added the meeting with Saudi Arabia`s King and Prime Minister was scheduled earlier, but the visit has ended and there has been no news of the meeting taking place.
“There was also no report stating that Anwar was invited to enter the Kaabah, as should be the usual courtesy given to a state leader on an official visit to the holy city,” said Wan Ahmad Fayhsal.
Anwar was on an official visit to Saudi Arabia from March 22 to 24, based on the invitation of Mohammed Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud, who is the Prime Minister-cum-Crown Prince, previous reports said.
Speaking at a press conference, Anwar said he appreciated getting the invitation to visit in a short time from the Saudi Arabian government (after his appointment as the prime minister), but he could not extend his stay to meet the King and the crown prince who had a change in his plans.
He added that the Saudi leaders had requested for Anwar to extend his stay in order to meet with Mohammed and the King of Saudi Arabia, King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
Anwar said had to turn down the request due to having another appointment at home.
“I appreciate the invitation, including for an audience scheduled with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and the Crown Prince, but had to turn it down because of the scheduled iftar with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong tomorrow and an official visit to Cambodia,” he said.
Anwar left for Kuala Lumpur at 5.30 am (12.30 am local time) on Saturday (March 25).
The visit to the kingdom was the first official visit by Anwar outside the Asian region since his appointment as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister in November last year.
According to reports, During the visit, Anwar, accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir and Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil, among others, had a meeting with the Saudi Arabian business community at the headquarters of the Islamic Development Bank, witnessed the signing of three memoranda of understanding between private companies in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, performed the umrah and met with Malaysians residing in Saudi Arabia for “iftar” – Malaysia World News
