RIYADH – A request for a bigger Haj quota is expected to be among important matters to be raised by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at his audience taking place now with the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, here Tuesday.
An increase in Malaysia’s population has prompted the government to make the request.
According to Tabung Haji’s website, the Saudi Arabian government has set the haj quota for every country at 0.1% of the total population.
Apart from the haj quota, Muhyiddin is likely to raise matters on the Umrah pilgrimage too at the meeting with the Crown Prince, who is also Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, on the final day of his four-day official visit to this kingdom.
Malaysia is seeking approval and permission for Malaysian Umrah pilgrims to perform the ritual at the soonest possible opportunity.
Strengthening bilateral ties is also expected to be discussed during the audience.
In this respect, a Saudi-Malaysian Coordination Council is expected to be established.
It will serve as an overarching bilateral platform for regular consultation between both countries in multi-discipline sector cooperation.
On the promotion of Malaysian palm oil in this country, Muhyiddin is exploring the possibility of opening a Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) office in Saudi Arabia.
Trade and investment are also expected to be discussed by them including potential collaboration in the halal industry.
The prime minister who arrived in this country on Saturday landed in Makkah first to perform the Umrah and was given the opportunity to enter the Kaabah.
Muhyiddin then flew to Madinah on Sunday to visit the tomb of Prophet Muhammad and the Nabawi Mosque.
He arrived in this capital yesterday and was greeted by the Crown Prince himself.
The official visit, at the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, is carried out under strict COVID-19 preventive standard operating procedures.
Push ties to new heights
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud meanwhile believes Muhyiddin’s official visit to this kingdom will push forward Riyadh-Kuala Lumpur ties to new heights and a promising future.
“It is important that we have a strong bilateral relationship that can serve the interest of both countries, and also the Muslim world as a whole,” he told Malaysian media at his ministry here recently.
Prince Faisal said the visit will provide a burst of energy to this relationship.
Prince Faisal said both countries wanted to establish a high-level strategic committee that would help institutionalise the cooperation, rather than relying on ad-hoc modes of collaboration between both nations.
“We now have a firmly established institutional process that will deliver results for both countries, and make sure we follow up on the opportunities,” he said.
He said there are a lot of opportunities to be pursued by the two countries such as investment, joint commission, education and scientific development.
This mechanism, he said, will help both nations follow up on agreements and discussions and continue having strong momentum in bilateral ties.
On the memoranda of understandings (MoUs) to be inked between the two countries, Prince Faisal said they include the ‘Mecca Road Service’ which would make it easier for hajj pilgrims from Malaysia to visit the kingdom by clearing Saudi passport control in Malaysia.
The Saudi foreign minister also touched on the roles both countries could play in helping the Muslim ummah, and also with combating Islamophobia.
“We are very challenged in the world today by all forms of discrimination, of hate and misunderstanding. One of those targets are Muslims,” he said.
He said both countries could help the global community to understand that Islam is really a force for good, and a force for peace.
“Malaysia has been a leader in this because Malaysia is a beacon of tolerance and of moderate Islam. And this is the same case with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“We can help reinforce the message that the Muslim ummah is united for peace and progress and that we are ready to cooperate with all faiths and all people,” he said.
