SECURITY MoU, AUDIENCE WITH KING AMONG HIGHLIGHTS OF NAJIB'S VISIT

By Muin Abdul Majid

JEDDAH, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- Ties between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia are set
to deepen with the visit by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to this
oil-rich kingdom, with Kuala Lumpur eyeing further cooperation in areas like
economy, trade, information technology, science and security.

Among the highlights of Najib's four-day visit are an audience with Saudi
Arabian King Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al-Saud in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and the
signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on security policy cooperation.

Malaysian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Syed Omar Syed Mohamad Al-Saggaf,
told reporters that relations between the two Muslim countries were good, but
Malaysia would like to see closer interaction between members of Saudi and
Malaysian business communities.

Najib is scheduled to arrive in Jeddah Wednesday (early Thursday morning in
Malaysia) accompanied by his wife, Rosmah Mansor.

His entourage includes Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, International
Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed, Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun
Hussein and Women, Family and Community Development Minister
Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, as well as several state leaders.

This will be Najib's first official visit to Saudi Arabia since becoming
Malaysia's sixth prime minister in April last year. It is at the invitation of
King Abdullah, according to Malaysia's foreign ministry.

Besides King Abdullah, Najib is also slated to call on Saudi Second Deputy
Prime Minister and Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

According to Syed Omar, talks between Najib and Saudi leaders would touch
on issues within the framework of the Jeddah-based Organisation of the Islamic
Conference, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

With security matters remaining a concern in many countries across the
globe, the security MoU to be inked during the trip would cover cooperation
against terrorism, drug trafficking, falsifying documents and cross-border
crimes.

Malaysia, which is positioning itself as a centre for education excellence,
was also keen to attract more students from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East,
said Syed Omar.

Saudi Arabia is the world's dominant oil producer and a major player in
the Arab and Muslim world. It is home to over 25 million people.

This desert kingdom, the birthplace of Islam, welcomes tens of thousands of
Malaysian haj pilgrims each year, as well as millions of pilgrims from other
nations from across the globe.

In terms of total trade for the West Asian region, Saudi Arabia is
Malaysia's
second largest trading partner after the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Official data showed that in 2008, total trade amounted to over RM11 billion
(US$=$M3.36) or 20.3 per cent, of Malaysia's trade with the region and 0.9 per
cent of
Malaysia's global trade.

Exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to RM3.5 billion and imports RM7.6 billion
in 2008, while in the January-July period last year, trade with Saudi Arabia
amounted to RM4.1 billion.

As at December 2008, Saudi companies implemented three manufacturing
projects in Malaysia involving a capital investment of RM80.6 million in
electrical and electronics, as well as textile products.

In the non-manufacturing sector, significant investments were in
information, communications and technology-related, property and financial
services.

Malaysia and Saudi Arabia recently set up a US$2.5 billion joint venture
company that will start with investments in oil and gas, renewable energy and
real estate sector in Malaysia and overseas.

Najib is scheduled to visit King Abdullah University of Science and
Technology, as well as perform the umrah (minor pilgrimage).

He will also attend a gathering with members of the Malaysian business
community in Saudi Arabia.

-- BERNAMA