BAHRAIN TO OPEN EMBASSY IN MALAYSIA

From Muin Abdul Majid

MANAMA (Bahrain), Jan 20 (Bernama) -- In a move that can only spell enhanced
relations between Malaysia and Bahrain, this Gulf nation is set to open its
embassy in Kuala Lumpur, said Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi.

He said Bahrain was also receptive to Malaysia's request for the visa
validity period for Malaysian visitors to be extended to three months from the
current 14 days.

These were among the outcome of talks between Malaysian and Bahraini
leaders in conjunction with the two-day official visit by Abdullah to Bahrain
which ended Monday night.

He also disclosed to Malaysian journalists covering his visit here that his
Bahraini counterpart, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, was expected to
visit Malaysia in March during which he would inaugurate the embassy.

"Malaysia is hopeful that the Malaysia-Bahrain joint commission meeting
will also take place during the visit to discuss ways to further expand our
bilateral relations," he said.


Abdullah said the two countries discussed the possibility of relaunching
direct air services between their capital cities of Manama and Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia Airlines used to fly to Bahrain but the service was discontinued
following the carrier's rationalisation programme, he said.

"If MAS is not able to fly here, maybe other airlines like AirAsia would
consider it," he added.

Abdullah also said that a proposal for the formation of a Malaysia-Bahrain
friendship association had been well-received by Bahraini authorities.

He said Shaikh Khalifa felt that such a body would contribute positively
towards enhancing ties between the peoples of Bahrain and Malaysia.

Based on his interactions with Bahraini rulers, Abdullah said, both sides
were keen to further expand linkages in areas such as trade and investment,
construction, agriculture, food production, information communication
technology, education, science and technology as well as tourism.


"Another area of interest would be Islamic banking and finance," he said,
adding that cooperation between Malaysia and Bahrain in the halal industry
should also be enhanced.

Expressing satisfaction with the outcome of the visit, he said that there
was sincerity on the part of the Bahrainis to improve ties between the two
countries.

On Gaza, Abdullah said he and Shaikh Khalifa shared the view that a
ceasefire must be implemented as soon as possible and the Israeli blockade on
Gaza lifted.

Fielding questions from the floor at the Malaysia-Bahrain business forum
earlier, the prime minister said the government would try to keep the number of
layoffs low in the current challenging economic climate.

Efforts were being made to ensure the resilience of the domestic economy in
the face of adverse world economic conditions, he added.

-- BERNAMA