Saifuddin denies claims he sought Hisham’s help
KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah yesterday dismissed a news report claiming that the government had sought help from former special functions minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to fix strained ties between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
Saifuddin, via his Twitter account @saifuddinabd, said he did not meet Hishammuddin.
“Following a report by @msianinsight (The Malaysian Insight), I would like to clarify that there was no meeting between me and Hishammuddin. Wisma Putra also did not keep in touch with him on the matter,” he said.
In his second tweet, which included two pictures of him with Saudi Arabia amb a ssador to Malaysia
Mahmoud
Hussien
Saeed Qattan, Saifuddin said he h a d e xplained
Malaysia’s stand three months ago during a courtesy visit by the former.
“We agreed that relations between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia would remain close and be strengthened.”
In his third tweet, which included two pictures of him with his Saudi counterpart, Adel Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Saifuddin said: “We have agreed to continue working together to broaden and strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.”
Saifuddin met Adel on the sidelines of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York recently.
Yesterday, The Malaysian Insight reported that the government sought help from Hishammuddin to mend ties between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
According to the report, sources said some decisions made by the current government had affected its relationship with Riyadh, which was warmer under former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration.