Malaysian envoy ends tour of duty

Malaysian Ambassador Datuk Syed Omar Al Saggaf has underlined the excellent existing bilateral ties between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia covering various fields and hoped it would strengthen further in the years to come.
Al Saggaf, who will be quitting office as Malaysian envoy to Saudi Arabia on Sept. 20 after holding the post for exactly five years, was speaking to Arab News on Tuesday, when he recalled various events and happenings during his tenure.
Al Saggaf, who is also Malaysia’s permanent representative at the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), said: “The two countries are bound by strong ties in various sectors, and I thank Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and other top Saudi officials for their cooperation during my five meaningful years as my country’s envoy here.”
The diplomat appreciated the kindness and hospitality of King Abdullah when high-ranking Malaysian officials visited the Kingdom. One such instance, he said, was when the Crown Prince of the Malaysian State of Perlis, Prince Taku Sayed Putra, visited the Kingdom a few months back to perform Umrah.
The Malaysian envoy also met with then Riyadh Governor and now Defense Minister and Crown Prince Salman who extended utmost cooperation to him as the Malaysian envoy.
He said: “I also met a number of high-ranking Saudi officials and I am very grateful to them for making my stint here meaningful, both personally as well as professionally,” expressing hope that his successor will enjoy the same cooperation he had received from the host government.
Al Saggaf said that bilateral trade increased significantly from $260 million in 1990 to $3.66 billion in 2012. Globally, Saudi Arabia was Malaysia’s 19th largest trading partner, 22nd largest export destination and 16th largest import source.
He said there was room for expansion of trade in machinery, appliances and parts, building and construction materials, palm oil, processed food as well as wood products.
In the field of education, he said that it was agreed recently that Malaysia and the Kingdom would develop Islamic courses to be taught in Saudi universities that include Al-Imam Muhammad bin Saud University in the capital and the King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah.
There are many Saudi students enrolled in various universities, besides undertaking courses in Malaysia under the King Abdullah Scholarship Program.
Al Saggaf also said that there were quite a few Malaysians on scholarships, who were studying in Saudi Arabia. “I myself graduated in Islamic Sharia from Madinah Munawarah Islamic University.”