THERE was no negative response from Arab Saudi, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Hamad Al Thani’s visit to Malaysia on October 15.

Defence Minister and Minister with Special Functions, Hishammuddin Hussein said Malaysian embassies also reported no negatives reports on the visit by the media in these four countries.

He said the conflict between Qatar and the other Arab countries did not threaten Malaysia’s good diplomatic relations with these countries.

He was replying to a question from Ahmad Nazlan Idris (BN-Jerantut) on the effects of the Emiir of Qatar’s visit to Malaysia.

Hishammuddin said the visit to Malaysia had a positive impact on the economic and trade ties between the two countries, besides the four memorandums of understanding signed.

He said the MoU’s were in the fields of diplomatic training, higher education, law and judiciary, as well as on the proposed setting up of the Malaysia-Qatar Joint Business Council.

To a supplementary question from Hasan Arifin (BN-Rompin) on the role of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which is still unclear in resolving the Qatar-Arab quartet conflict, Hishammuddin said OIC’s role was still relevant in resolving the crisis. – Bernama, November 2, 2017.