Malaysia, Saudi Arabia to boost cooperation in fighting terrorism, transborder crimes

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Saudi Arabia will be enhancing cooperation on combating terrorism and transborder crimes.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said security issues were discussed in his meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz Saud Al- Saud here yesterday.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said Malaysia and Saudi Arabia had signed a Security Cooperation Agreement on April 18, 2011.

“Malaysia highly appreciates the existing cooperation with Saudi Arabia.

“In Malaysia’s efforts to combat transborder crimes in this region, we also highly value our ties with countries in the Middle East,” he said in a statement issued in conjunction with Prince Abdulaziz Saud Al- Saud’s courtesy call on him at Perdana Putra.

Prince Abdulaziz Saud AlSaud, 34, who was appointed Minister of Interior last June 21 is on a three- day visit to Malaysia from Tuesday.

He is the youngest person to hold the portfolio in Saudi Arabia.

Prince Abdulaziz Saud Al- Saud previously has worked in the private sector for several years before serving on the Supreme Committee for the Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Award for the Prophetic Sunnah and Contemporary Islamic Studies.

He had also held several posts in government including as advisor to the Minister of Interior, advisor to the Royal Court in Rights, Systems, Borders and Advisors Unit departments” and also as advisor to the Office of Defence Minister Crown Prince Mohammad Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud. — Bernama