King Salman's Visit Dispels Claim Of Malaysia A Failed Country - PM Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) -- The state visit by the King of Saudi Arabia King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to the country recently dispelled false allegations by irresponsible quarters that Malaysia is a failed country, said Prime Minister Najib Razak. He said the visit, which was significant from various aspects, proved that the wrong information conveyed to the Saudi Arabian government was baseless. He said the state-visit by King Salman was significant in various aspects and in recognition of Malaysia being it the first country for His Majesty to visit in Southeast Asia. "If there are quarters that say Malaysia is a failed country, economy is not stable, resulting in wrong information to be conveyed to Saudi Arabia, especially Aramco (Saudi Arabian Oil Company), that EPF (Employees Provident fund) is bankrupt, no money to pay the salary of civil servants. "When King Salam visits Malaysia, gone are all these allegations made by irresponsible quarters," he said during the session on ministers' questions in the Dewan Rakyat (Malaysian Parliament) on Thursday. Najib was responding to a question by a member of parliament Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah who wanted to know the impact and significance of the visit by the Saudi Arabian king. The prime minister said seven Memorandum of Understanding, with an estimated value of US$2.19 billion (RM9.75 billion), were signed between Malaysian and Saudi Arabian companies. "The agreements between the Malaysian and Saudi Arabian companies involved various sectors, like energy, health, construction, education, small and medium industries and also halal industry," he added. Najib said the highlight of the visit was on the share purchase agreement between Petronas, the Malaysian oil and gas company and Aramco in the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) refinery project. It involves an investment of us$6.98 billion (RM31 billion), the biggest investment ever made by a Saudi Arabian company in Malaysia, he added. --BERNAMA