Pointing out that the Saudi-Malaysian ties have been expanding in the economic, political and IT sectors, Malaysian Ambassador Wan Mokhtar Ahmad has said that this strategic alliance between the two countries got a big boost following the exchange of high-level visits between the leaders of the two countries.
Ambassador Mokhtar was speaking to Arab News on the occasion of his country’s 47th National Day today. In a message released by the ambassador, he pointed out that “Malaysia has always viewed the brotherly relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the cornerstone in its relations with the Muslim world. Both nations have a lot of common interest and these commonalities could be synergized into the new partnership in all fields which would benefit us mutually.”
The ambassador said these burgeoning relations led to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDC) and the Madinah governorate to transform Madinah into an IT city. The MoU, signed during the official visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to the Kingdom, envisages partnership between MDC and Integrated Vision Saudi Arabia to implement the e-Madinah project.
He pointed out that the MDC has also signed an MoU with a private firm to launch a pilot project for a smart card for Haj and Umrah traffic movement. “The MDC is in the process of going into partnership with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry to develop the Jeddah Technology Park. Negotiations between the MDC and JCCI are still in progress.”
In this context he observed that the official visit of the new Malaysian prime minister to the Kingdom from June 29-July 1, “was very significant for us”, since it was his first ever trip to the Arab world after he took over as prime minister in November last year. He also referred to the third Joint Commission through Joint Commission meeting held recently in Riyadh between June 25-26 this year.
Both sides identified the scope for cooperation in areas including trade and industry, finance, investment, agriculture, higher education, health care, petroleum and minerals, science & technology, culture, tourism, information, youth & sport and private sector and entrepreneurs.
Referring to bilateral trade, the ambassador said it stands close to $1 billion. Malaysia’s main items of export to the Kingdom include palm oil, furniture, electronics, electrical products, plywood and wood products, foodstuff and commodities. Its imports from the Kingdom are mainly petroleum and petroleum products.
Giving a breakdown of Saudi investment in Malaysia, he said that the food sector tops the list with 20 percent of the invested capital. It is followed by other items in the manufacturing sector like electrical appliances (12.5 percent), plastic products (11.5 percent), textile and textile goods (3 percent) and miscellaneous (2.8 percent).
In the Kingdom, a major joint venture agreement in the field of health care has been signed between Saudi Arabia’s Al-Sharif Group and Malaysia’s Pantai Medivest. Al-Sharif Group plans to build two hospitals — one in Makkah and another in Madinah, each with 200-bed capacity.
On the educational front the ambassador said that Saudi students are taking up short-term courses in Malaysia preparatory to their induction in IT courses. “There is also trend that the Saudi students are starting to pursue their higher education in Malaysia, which has high class facilities in this regard.”
The number of Saudi tourists to Malaysia, he pointed out, has been on the upswing recently with Saudis constituting the largest group of tourists visiting his country from this region. This year the number of Saudis and their families visiting Malaysia is expected around 60,000. Most of them generally go on family vacation during the summer season from June to September.
Addressing his compatriots, the ambassador said that “under the new leadership, Malaysia will continue the path of development that has been drawn up by the previous leadership and will continue our responsibilities toward implementing the social obligation to ensure the development and prosperity of the country. Malaysia also will double its effort in implementing the national economic plan to ensure the prime objective of the nation to be a developed country by 2020. In the international arena, Malaysia … will continue to play its important role in the international arena, … since Malaysia is currently holding the chairmanship of two prominent organizations of NAM (Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).
“I would like to take this opportunity to express our warmest greetings to all Malaysian in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during this memorable occasion. The day of Aug. 31 is very significant to all Malaysian. As we mark the 47th anniversary of the Merdeka Day this year, let us preserve our national integrity and commitment by doing our share in nation building through improving ourselves with highest skill of knowledge in every field.
“Last but not least, I wish our bilateral relationship between Malaysia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will continue to flourish… at the highest level at all times. May I also wish all Malaysians living in the Kingdom my best regards and happiness.”
