AMID concerns about giving land for the King Salman Centre for International Peace (KSCIP), Special Functions Minister Hishammuddin Hussein announced that controversial Crown Prince Mohammad Salman will open the centre next year.

Hishammuddin, who is also the defence minister, said Malaysia’s relationship with Saudi Arabia has not been problematic and the fight against Islamic State is an ongoing battle.

“We wait for the Crown Prince Mohammad Salman. Our relationship (with Saudi Arabia) is fine and I think our agenda against Daesh (IS) is ongoing.

“We will continue with what we have planned and I have invited Prince Mohammad to launch it,” said Hishammuddin at the Umno meeting at PWTC today.

The Umno vice-president was commenting on criticism by Department of Islamic Development Malaysia officer and preacher Zamihan Mat Zin that the idea of asking the Saudi government to help fight terrorism in Southeast Asia is “unrealistic”.

Prominent Islamic scholar Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa has also criticised Putrajaya’s decision to give a 16ha plot of land to KSCIP, saying it “made little sense”.

Mohammad is equally controversial, following a political crackdown involving 11 princes and dozens of former government ministers in Saudi Arabia last week.

The prince, however, was also credited with allowing women in Saudi Arabia to drive.

Hishammuddin, however, did not say when Mohammad is expected to visit Malaysia.

KSCIP currently operates from Kuala Lumpur and the government aims to complete the construction in two years. – November 13, 2017.