Malaysia and Saudi Arabia vow to fight ISIS

Asia-Pacific, Middle East, News March 3, 2016 , by IRIA No Comments

Malaysia and Saudi Arabia will remain “inseparable partners” against terror groups that have caused havoc in the Middle East

RIYADH, (Saudi Arabia) — The recent visit of Malaysian Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia has forged a stronger relationship between the two major Muslim nations who have emerged as “inseparable partners” in the war against terrorism, Malaysian PM said.

The meeting has deepen ties between the two major Muslim countries, said Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during a four-day trip to Saudi Arabia. It is his second visit in two months.

Malaysian PM held meetings with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other key officials.

Malaysian PM Najib Razak has pledged to fight extremism and terrorism in Southeast Asia, where officials said Islamic State militants have been working to co-opt local terror groups.

Speaking at a conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Najib said that the two countries will remain “inseparable partners” against terror groups that have caused havoc in the Middle East and around the world.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder with you in this fight,” Najib said, according to the Malaysian Star Online newspaper. “And we will never tire in the battle to defend the true, authentic Islam.”

Najib said the Malaysian Armed Forces has been proud to participate in the largest military exercise in the Middle East, called Northern Thunder. The cooperation, said Najib, will further cement coordination and cooperation between the 20 countries which gathered under Saudi Arabia’s leadership.

In December 2015, Saudi Arabia announced an Islamic coalition to combat terrorism. Malaysia, it seems, is still not sure about joining the coalition according to this interview by Malaysian PM to Arab News:

“We are taking part in the military exercise, North Thunder, so that we will have the capability to operate as part of a coalition. With our participation in North Thunder, we want to send a strong signal that the security of Saudi Arabia is very important to us” remarked Malaysian PM. But he also added that: “We are not involved in any actual military action in the region.”

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud held official talks with the Prime Minister of Malaysia Mohamed Najib Abdul Razak at his place.

During the meeting, the current cooperation relations between the two countries in all fields and ways of enhancing them in addition to the developments of incidents in the Islamic and international arenas were reviewed, according to Saudi Press Agency.

Najib stressed that bilateral and defence ties with Saudi Arabia remained strong, with the Malaysian armed forces having joined Northern Thunder, the biggest military exercise in the Middle East.

Najib said the two Muslim countries were “like brothers” as he thanked the Saudi royal family for extending its help, and for hosting the Forum, which gathered about 20 countries seeking investment opportunities offered by the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia is one of Malaysia’s largest trading partners in the Middle East, with trade between the countries valued at about RM11 billion (S$3.71 billion) last year, according to Malaysian government statistics.