Zahid arrives in Saudi Arabia for five-day working visit

RIYADH: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Dr Seri Zahid Hamidi arrived here tonight for a five-day working visit to Saudi Arabia.

Accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis, Zahid landed at the King Khalid International airport's royal pavilion about 10.15pm (Malaysian time) and was received by Dr Ahmed Mohammad Al Salim, under secretary of Interior Ministry of Saudi Arabia and Malaysian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Datuk Zainol Rahim Zainuddin.

This is Zahid's maiden official visit to Saudi Arabia as deputy prime minister.

Also included in his delegation were Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia and senior government officials from the home and foreign ministries.

Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, is scheduled to have an audience with King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince Mohammad Naif Al-Saud and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Salman Al-Saud tomorrow morning (Thursday).

Later in the afternoon, he will have a meeting with Mohammad, who is also Zahid's counterpart and Saudi Arabia Interior minister, followed by a visit to the Mohammad Naif Counselling and Care Centre.

At the centre, he is expected to be briefed on Saudi Arabia's initiatives in fighting terrorism and its deradicalisation programme for extremists.

Zahid's itinerary for the day will end with a dinner with the Malaysian diaspora here.

On Friday, he will depart for Madinah in the morning and perform Friday prayers at Al-Nabawi mosque at noon.

Zahid is also scheduled to have lunch with the Malaysian community in Madinah, followed by a visit to the Prophet Muhammad's grave.

On Saturday, he is scheduled to visit Madinah's Knowledge Economic City and Al-Madinah Museum in the morning and perform Umrah in Makkah later at night.

Zahid will depart for home from Jeddah on Sunday morning.

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