Why the rushed trip to Saudi Arabia, asks PN MP

Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal today questioned the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) over the reportedly eleventh-hour official visit to Saudi Arabia by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

He said the visit had embarrassed both Malaysia and Saudi Arabia due to Anwar's failure to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and King Salman Abdulaziz. 

"Why did the PMO carry out such a rushed visit, said to be an official trip but not so in reality?

"We ask for a thorough explanation from the prime minister and foreign minister. We shouldn't repeat diplomatic mistakes that harm the country," he said in a press conference at the Parliament building. 

Anwar had expressed regret that he was unable to meet Mohammed, with a Bernama report saying the meeting could not take place because the crown prince had a change of plans ahead of the Ramadan month.

The government also said that Anwar had turned down a request by Saudi officials to extend his stay so that a meeting with the crown prince could take place, saying the prime minister was scheduled to visit Cambodia and China in the coming days.

Wan Fayshal compared Anwar's trip to that of Muhyiddin Yassin during his time as prime minister, saying the latter had resulted in an increase in Malaysia's haj quota as well as interest in doubling the purchase of Malaysian palm oil. 

The Bersatu Youth chief said Wisma Putra had not revealed the details of Anwar's visit. 

"This will have an impact on bilateral relations between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia," he said. 

"Is it true that the Saudi government did not want to meet with the prime minister?"