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I didn't close down Saudi centre, says Mahathir

This comes after Anwar Ibrahim said he disagreed with the decision to shut down the King Salman Center for International Peace.

Nur Hasliza Mohd Salleh
2 minute read
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A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, Oct 20, 2018. Photo: Reuters
A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, Oct 20, 2018. Photo: Reuters

Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said he had no knowledge of the closure of a Saudi-backed centre in 2018, following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's remarks criticising the move against it during the veteran leader's brief second term under the Pakatan Harapan government. 

"I don't know about the closure of this centre," he told reporters, referring to the King Salman Center for International Peace (KSCIP).

"All I know is that it was recently reported that the centre was closed. Who closed it, I don't know." 

Anwar previously said he had never agreed with the move to close down the centre, first mooted by Saudi monarch King Salman Abdul Aziz during his visit to Malaysia in 2017. 

Following the fall of the Barisan Nasional government a year later, then defence minister Mohamad Sabu was reported by Al Jazeera as saying that the centre had been ordered to cease operations immediately. The report also said that no reason was given by Mohamad.

'I was always greeted by head of state'

Meanwhile, on Anwar's failure to meet Saudi de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mahathir who led the government for 22 years said he had always been greeted by the head of state on his official visits overseas.

"This was an official visit. When I was the prime minister, I made official trips to many countries. 

"I was always greeted by the head of state at every country," he said. 

Mahathir said he did not understand why neither Mohammed nor King Salman Abdul Aziz had met with Anwar. 

"Perhaps they had views which we do not know of which made them reluctant to meet with Anwar," he said. 

"Those who did meet with Anwar were only low-ranked officials."