OFFICIAL VISIT OF

YAB TAN SRI MUHYIDDIN YASSIN

PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

TO THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AND UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

6-11 MARCH 2021

 

YAB Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be undertaking an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 6 to 9 March 2021. Following that, YAB Prime Minister will undertake an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 9 to 11 Marc h 2021. This will be YAB Prime Minister’s first official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE since assuming office on 1 March 2020.

 

A. MALAYSIA – KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA RELATIONS

 

1. YAB Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin received an invitation from His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, in April 2020 to undertake an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the spirit of brotherly relationship and long -standing partnership between the two countries, Malaysia is honoured to accept the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's invitation. YAB Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin will be the first foreign Head of Government to be invited by His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to undertake an official visit to the Kingdom Saudi Arabia following the historic Al Ula Conference on 5 January 2021.

 

2. Malaysia’s bilateral relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia encompass a broad spectrum of cooperation, which include trade, investment, Islamic affairs, education and people-to-people linkages. Both countries continue to have strong desire towards elevating the existing ties to a more comprehensive and strategic level. The visit, therefore, will not only provide an opportunity for both countries to strengthen traditional areas of cooperation, but also forge greater partnership in new areas, such as new technology and innovation, as well as energy collaboration. The ongoing reorientation of the Saudi economy, driven by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, has significantly expanded the scope of opportunities for Malaysia -Saudi cooperation.

 

3. YAB Prime Minister’s official visit reflects the great significance Malaysia attaches to our relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as one of our important partners in the Middle East. As modern and progressive Muslim nations, both countries share a common interest in elevating these relations to greater heights for mutual benefit of the people of the two countries and for the benefit of the Ummah as a whole.

 

2. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS VISIT TO MALAYSIA AND THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

 

Malaysia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will discuss efforts to further strengthen the existing bilateral ties and explore new areas of cooperation with the view to elevating the partnership to a more strategic level . These include the following proposals:

 

1. Establishment of a High Level Strategic Committee (HLSC) at the Foreign Ministers level which will serve as an overarching bilateral platform for consultations. The HLSC is set to pave the way for regular consultations between Malaysia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in multiple sectors, such as and international political security issues, post -COVID-19 economic recovery, Hajj and Umrah matters, food security and palm oil trade.

 

2. Forging greater collaboration in the field of science and technology which will serve the economic and strategic interests of both countries. This includes the proposal for the establishment of the Malaysia-Saudi Tech Innovation Centre which will provide a platform to encourage collaboration between both countries in the development of smart cities, artificial intelligence and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0).

 

3. Strengthening cooperation in Hajj and Umrah with the formalisation of ‘Mecca Road Service’ initiative which will ease and simplify the pre-clearance process for Malaysian Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, such as airport arrangements, visa and passport checking, customs procedures and other logistical arrangements.

 

4. Official Hajj quota, as well as Hajj and Umrah procedures for Malaysian pilgrims.

 

5. Enhancement of bilateral trade and investment, including in oil and gas, as well as renewable energy sectors. This includes future collaboration in the area of new technologies, such as hydrogen, wind energy and carbon capture.

 

6. Strengthening collaborative efforts and responses in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, including its socio-economic impacts to both countries. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was the largest contributor of COVID-19 related medical equipment to Malaysia during the early stages of the pandemic.

 

7. Exploring new markets for palm oil exports to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as to the Middle East and African regions .

 

8. Strengthening cooperation in the halal industry, including collaboration between halal certification bodies of the two countries.

 

9. Exchanging views on regional and international issues of common concern, particularly on the peaceful resolution of disputes within the region.

 

C. MALAYSIA – UAE RELATIONS

 

1. The visit reflects the close, strong and strategic partnership between Malaysia and the UAE in all areas of mutual interest. It is also set to boost further efforts towards increasing trade and economic cooperation with the UAE, which is currently Malaysia’s largest trading partner in the Middle East. The UAE’s status as an international trade and financial hub makes it an important partner for Malaysia to access new markets. Malaysia, on the other hand, is a critical gateway for UAE products and services in Southeast Asia.

 

2. YAB Prime Minister’s official visit reflects the importance that Malaysia attaches, in deepening further its partnership with the UAE. Given the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the visit will serve as a catalyst for resilience and growth, particularly in the areas of trade and investment, agriculture and food security, health and diplomatic exchanges.

 

D. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS VISIT TO MALAYSIA AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

 

Malaysia and the UAE will discuss efforts to further strengthen the existing bilateral ties and explore new areas of cooperation with the view to elevating the partnership to greater heights. These include the following proposals:

 

1. Enhancement of bilateral cooperation in addressing current and future challenges, including collaboration in the post-pandemic recovery phase through technology, innovation and economic partnership .

 

2. Establishment of an International Food Security Coalition (IFSC) with the primary objective of building greater resilience and robustness in the global food supply chains. As an initial step towards materializing the IFSC, both sides will sign the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the Food Diplomacy Cooperation between Malaysia and the UAE.

 

3. Strengthening cooperation in the oil and gas industry. This includes greater collaboration between the industry players from Malaysia and the UAE on existing business activities, as well as on potential opportunities in both upstream and downstream sectors.

 

4. Establishment of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Chair at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia (ISIS). The Chair is set to promote greater understanding and contact between the two countries while promoting the ideals of good governance, environmental responsibility and interfaith tolerance, espoused by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

 

5. Strengthening cooperation in the halal industry including collaboration between halal certification bodies of the two countries.

 

6. Exchanging views on regional and international issues of common concern, particularly on the peaceful resolution of disputes within the region.

 

5. BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE OFFICIAL PROGRAMS

 

1. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, YAB Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will perform Umrah in Makkah, followed by Ziarah in Madinah from 6 to 8 March 2021 at the invitation of His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. YAB Prime Minister's official programme will take place at Al -Yamamah Palace, Riyadh on 9 March 2021. This includes an official welcoming ceremony, virtual audience with His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, meeting with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, signing ceremony of Memoranda of Understanding, as well as official luncheon.

 

2. In the UAE, YAB Prime Minister's official programme will take place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on 10 March 2021. This includes meetings with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai.

 

6. OFFICIAL VISIT WILL BE UNDERTAKEN WITH STRICT ADHERENCE TO COVID-19 PREVENTATIVE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP)

 

YAB  Prime  Minister  will  be        accompanied  by  a  small  delegation  comprising  YB Foreign Minister, YB Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, and senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

 

The official visit will also be subjected to strict COVID-19 preventative SOP as agreed upon by Malaysia's Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Security Council (NSC), and by the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Health and Prevention of the UAE, as follows:

 

1. The Malaysian delegation is required to provide negative PCR test results 120 hours (5 days), and 24 hours (1 day) before the official meetings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;

 

2. The delegation will also be travelling by a special aircraft instead of commercial arrangements in order to create a travel bubble to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE;

 

3. Following which, the Malaysian delegation is required to provide negative PCR test results 48 hours (2 days) prior to their arrival in the UAE. Upon arrival in the UAE, the Malaysian delegation is required to undergo another swab test and will be quarantined inside the designated accommodation until the test results are released;

 

4. The Malaysian delegation is required to wear face masks at all times at the areas designated as venues for the official visit;

 

 

5. The Malaysian delegation is only allowed to the designated areas of the official visit;

 

 

6. There will be no physical contact - handshakes, hugs or touching, throughout the official visit;

 

7. The Malaysian delegation is required to undergo mandatory quarantine as soon as they return to Malaysia as prescribed by MOH.

 

 

PUTRAJAYA

5 MARCH 2021