RIYADH: Malaysia’s part in the Saudi Arabia-led military exercise – dubbed “Northern Thunder” – is a show of solidarity between Muslim nations, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Najib said the close relationship between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia was a form of cooperation to thwart various security threats, including the Islamic State, in Malaysia and the region.
“Our involvement in the military exercise shows that we are giving our full support to Saudi.
“It is a sign of solidarity between Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and the 18 other countries in the coalition, to showcase our efforts to strengthen solidarity in the Muslim world,” he said after meeting the Malaysian community here on Wednesday.
Najib earlier visited Malaysian Armed Forces personnel stationed at Hafar Al-Batin, some 515km from here.
He was accompanied by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Zulkefli Mohd Zin and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
Describing the mood of the personnel as “cheerful”, Najib said the exercise would also help Malaysian troops enhance their capabilities in desert and urban warfare.
“We would like to train our soldiers to face our enemies in different kinds of environments,” he said, adding that the exercise would also improve the armed forces’ inter-operability among Muslim countries.
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