Najib: Malaysia will defend true Islam with Saudi ‘brothers’

Prime Minister says Malaysia will stand "shoulder-to-shoulder" with Saudi Arabia in its fight against extremism and terrorism.

PETALING JAYA: Declaring Saudi Arabia as Malaysia’s “brothers”, Prime Minister Najib Razak has vowed to stand together with them to defend Islam in their fight against extremism and terrorism.

Decrying the chaos, death and destruction unleashed by terrorists in the Middle East region, Najib, in his keynote address at the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) 2016 in Jeddah last night, said, “We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you in this fight, and we will never tire in the battle to defend the true authentic Islam.”

According to a report in The Star Online, Najib also said he was proud that the Malaysian Armed Forces had the opportunity to participate in Northern Thunder, the largest military exercise in the Middle East and exclaimed how this cooperation would further cement coordination and cooperation between the 20 other countries that also took part in it.

Commenting of the long-standing ties the two countries shared that went as far back as the Malacca Sultanate, Najib said it was characterised by respect and added, “Indeed, I am proud to say that we are like brothers.”

He said Saudi Arabia had always extended warm hospitality to visiting Malaysians especially those performing their Umrah or Hajj and thanked them for their assistance in offering visa facilities and relocating students in times of emergency.

“I would like to personally thank the Saudi royal family for all their support over many decades.

“We will always appreciate it, and we will never forget it, from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud, to the late King Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and their esteemed predecessors, we in Malaysia have been so very fortunate to have constant and trusted friends,” he said

The JEF 2016 is a platform that focuses on public-private partnerships, by debating solutions and discussing challenges, while exploring business opportunities, and assessing the economic benefits offered by Saudi Arabia, the news portal said.