‘Saudi govt will be disappointed with closure of centre’
Seri Najib Razak says the Saudi government would be disappointed with the government’s decision to shut down the King Salman Centre for International Peace (KSCIP).
Najib, who is former prime minister, said the move to set up KSCIP was initiated by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Abdulaziz AlSaud, not by the previous Barisan Nasional government.
KSCIP, he said, was initiated to battle radicalism and extremism.
“That was why it was named as thus, and its purpose was welcomed as a good effort, with Malaysia being chosen ahead of other countries.
“(This move appears) as if we are rejecting help from the Saudi government, which shares close ties with Malaysia.
“They will be disappointed (with the closure of KSCIP),” he said at the Parliament lobby yesterday.
Najib was commenting on a written reply by Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday regarding the government’s move to close the centre.
Mohamad said KSCIP, temporarily based in Wisma HLA, Jalan Ampang, would be shut down.
Mohamad had in May said he would discuss with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on the status of KSCIP.
KSCIP came about following a visit by King Salman to Malaysia in March last year, as well as during Najib’s visit to Riyadh.
Former defence minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the centre’s closure was a great loss for Malaysia, especially in a time when violence was threatening the peace of the world.
He said battling “terrorism without borders” required cooperation among nations.
KSCIP, he said, was established by Malaysia and Saudi Arabia to formulate a strategic action to tackle extremism and global terrorism.
Hishammuddin said the centre had aided Malaysia’s efforts towards realising global peace and safety, and was an invaluable addition to the country.
He said he was certain that the closure of the centre would lead to other countries seizing the opportunity to establish a similar centre with the Saudi government.