Najib’s visit to Saudi Arabia at invitation of Saudi king

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is on a working visit to Saudi Arabia from Tuesday to Jan 12 at the invitation of the King of Saudi Arabia, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al- Saud, the Prime Minister’s Office said yesterday.

It said in a statement that the visit would enable the two leaders to discuss bilateral matters that had been agreed upon by the two countries during the maiden visit of King Salman to Malaysia last year.

“Besides, it is the intention of the Prime Minister to perform the ‘umrah’ during this working visit.

“Datuk Seri Najib has invited his family members and a few acquaintances to be with him when he performs the umrah,” it said.

The statement said the Prime Minister’s delegation comprised his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, his mother Tun Rahah Mohammad Noah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, several family members and acquaintances and officers of the Prime Minister.

It also said that the Prime Minister’s younger siblings and his acquaintances in the delegation were making the trip to the Holy Land at their own expense.

The statement said Tun Rahah had been on the flight to Saudi Arabia with Datuk Seri Najib.

It also said that the names of the family members and acquaintances were entered into the official delegation list to facilitate administrative procedures with Saudi Arabia for the umrah arrangement.

“The Prime Minister and members of the delegation were accorded the status of state guests by the Saudi Arabian government,” it said. — Bernama