MALAYSIAN PM ENDS FIVE-DAY WORKING VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA

From Jamaluddin Muhammad

JEDDAH, July 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
departed for home Monday after a five-day working visit to Saudi Arabia which
included a meeting with King Abdullah Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, left the Royal Pavilion at the
King Abdul Aziz International Airport, here, at 10.20am (Malaysian time: 3.30pm)
on board a special aircraft.

The visit was initially scheduled for four days but Najib extended it to
accommodate his new schedule.

The prime minister will make a stopover in Abu Dhabi en route home to have
an audience with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince General Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan
at the latter's personal invitation.

In Saudi Arabia, Najib had an audience with King Abdullah on Saturday at
King Abdullah's palace here.

The cordial ties between the two countries and their leaders were
reflected
in the extension of the meeting from 30 minutes originally to one hour and 15
minutes.

"I did not expect the audience to last one hour 15 minutes as it was
originally scheduled for half-an-hour only. It is not easy to get an audience
with His Majesty King Abdullah," said Najib.

He said they discussed issues of mutual interest such as the economy,
tourism, and religious as well as interntional issues.

King Abdullah indicated that his country might play a more active role in
Islamic banking, Islamic products and services and equity in Malaysia following
the recent liberalisation of the Malaysian economy.

During the visit, Najib, Rosmah and their entourage performed the Umrah in
Mecca on Saturday.

Najib also took the opportunity to visit the Felda (Federal Land Development
Authority Malaysia)-owned restaurant, Saji, located near Masjidil Haram, Mecca,
after performing the Umrah.

The prime minister visited haj facilities in Mecca before joining Malaysians
residents there for lunch Sunday.

Islamic Development Bank (IDB) chairman and president Dr Ahmad Mohammed Ali
called on Najib here Sunday.

Najib also held dialogues with Malaysian representatives at the Organisation
of the Islamic Conference (OIC) cecretariat and the IDB as well as the
Malaysia-Jeddah Club and Malaysian businessmen operating in this country.

In Medina, Najib performed Friday prayers at Prophet Muhammad's mosque,
Nabawi Mosque, and visited the Prophet Muhammad Moussoleum, located beside the
mosque.

-- BERNAMA