Saudi King arriving in KL with an entourage of 600

PETALING JAYA: A delegation of more than 600 people will accompany Saudi Arabia’s Ruler King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud when he arrives in Malaysia today for a fourday state visit.

The group will include captains of industries and businessmen who will attend a forum here.

Apparently, the king would be accompanied by at least 100 Saudi bodyguards and security personnel, besides about 40 journalists.

A source said an even bigger group – of about 1,500 – would accompany King Salman to Indonesia, his next stop after Malaysia.

At a media briefing on Friday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman described the delegation as “quite sizeable”.

“His entourage will include members of the royal household as well as Cabinet ministers,” he said.

Anifah said it was significant that Malaysia was King Salman’s first destination in South-East Asia since ascending the throne in 2015.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will welcome him at the Bunga Raya Complex, KL International Airport.

They will then head to Parliament House for an official welcoming ceremony.

Tomorrow, King Salman and his entourage will head to the Prime Minister's residence, Seri Perdana, in Putrajaya for a bilateral meeting.

A memorandum of understanding will be signed between the governments of both nations.

King Salman’s visit to the country is at the invitation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The last state visit by the King of Saudi Arabia was more than 10 years ago when the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud was in the country from Jan 30 to Feb 1, 2006.

The late King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud also undertook a similar visit from June 7 to 10, 1970.

Kuala Lumpur traffic chief Asst Comm Mohd Nadzri Hussain said there would be some lane closure during the royal visit.

“Lanes will be closed temporarily as the convoy moves along.

“But there will be no road closure or diversion,” he said here yesterday.