THE opposition would have done better to raise the matter of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Saudi Arabia in the Dewan Rakyat instead of politicising it, Community Communication Department director-general Agus Yusoff said. 

Agus said the opposition refused to see the good that had come out of the visit but insisted on comparing it to Muhyiddin Yassin’s trip to the Arab kingdom.

“In Anwar’s three-day visit he had achieved four successes: meeting with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Muslim World League; witnessing the sealing of three memorandums of understanding between Dagang Nexchange Bhd and Ajlan & Bros Holding Group Co, Kuala Lumpur International Chamber of Commerce and Wadi Makkah Knowledge Co, and Qhub International Sdn Bhd and Eromman Technologies Sdn Bhd; listened to the briefings of Malaysian businessmen on the opportunities for Malaysian industries there; and discussed the issues of the Islamic world and networking initiatives,” Agus said in a statement today.

“If that isn’t unsuccess, I don’t know what success means to the opposition,” he said.

Yesterday Bersatu’s Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal denigrated Anwar’s visit to the Gulf nation after the leader failed to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Salman, who was also the prime minister, despite a scheduled meeting.

The Machang MP said there were no reports of Anwar being invited to enter the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, in Mecca, an honour Saudi Arabia typically bestowed on visiting heads of state and which was conferred on Muhyiddin and Dr Mahathir Mohamad when they travelled there.

Agus today said Anwar had explained why he was unable to meet the crown prince, who had asked him to extend his visit by two days so that they could meet.

“Anwar had to reject the request to extend his trip in order to remain on schedule with the rest of his plans, which include a day trip to Cambodia and meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, as well as a buka puasa with the cabinet and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” said Agus.

Agus also took the opposition to task for criticising Anwar for not taking Religious Affairs Minister Mohd Na’im Mokhtar with him to Saudi. Bersatu leaders had also said that the leaders of the Aran nation disliked Anwar as a leader.

“The Saudi kingdom was among the first to congratulate Anwar on his swearing-in as the prime minister and the visit was about current affairs and trade, not religious matters,” Agus said.

Anwar began his official three-day visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. He was accompanied by his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir and Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil. – March 26, 2023.