Prime Minister in South Africa on working visit

PRETORIA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is here for a working visit at the invitation of South african President Jacob Zuma, who also heads the African National Congress (ANC).

Najib, who was accompanied by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, arrived at Waterkloff Airforce Base here early yesterday morning and was greeted by Malaysian High Commissioner Kennedy Jawan.

Najib and wife were taken to the Michelangelo Hotel in Johannesburg, where they were welcomed by other High Commission officials.

Najib, who is visiting South Africa for the first time, was among 46 national leaders who gathered in Mangaung at Bloemfontein, yesterday for the 100th anniversary celebration of the ruling ANC.

According to Jawan, Najib’s presence at the ANC’S anniversary celebration reflected Malaysia’s support for the party which had struggled to free South Africa from apartheid in 1994.

He said Najib was also expected to have a meeting with Zuma and accept courtesy calls from Kenya’s vice-president Stephen Kalonzo Musyoko and Chief Minister of the Free State Territory, South Africa, Sekgobelo Elias Magashule.

Later in a tweet, Najib congratulated badminton ace Datuk Lee Chong Wei on his win over China’s player Lin Dan at the Korean Open Superseries Event. “Well done. “Congratulations from my wife n I,” he said, adding that he just got the news.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin also conveyed his congratulatory message to Lee, saying that Malaysians should be proud of his win. — Bernama