Hisham: Cancelled King Salman's Centre ‘a loss to nation's security’

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan’s decision to cancel the King Salman Centre for International Peace (KSCIP) is a loss to the Government and the nation, says Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

The former defence minister said violent extremism is increasingly undermining global security, especially in the Muslim world.

“This problem, because of its borderless nature, requires cooperation and coordination amongst nations.

“The centre was formed to position Malaysia as a strategic nation to jointly combat global violent extremism and terrorism on the ideological front, together with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (Aug 7).

He was responding to current Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu’s announcement that the Government has decided to shutter KSCIP’s operations in Malaysia.

“Through the centre, Malaysia would have been at the forefront of the fight against narratives and ideologies that drive violent extremism, a fight Malaysia is uniquely qualified to take on.

“Malaysia’s contribution to global peace and security would have been invaluable,” Hishammuddin said.

However, if the Pakatan Harapan Government decides not to proceed with this initiative, it is better to make this decision now in the early stages of the centre to avoid cancelling more serious commitments if the centre was fully operational, he added.

“Other nations, especially those who are facing this threat, will most probably take on the opportunity and set up a similar centre with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other willing countries to counter violent extremism and terrorism together.

“Personally, I will continue in the fight against violent extremism and terrorism, and will continue to work with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in this regard,” Hishammuddin said.

The previous government’s plan to build the Saudi-backed KKSCIP on a 16ha plot of land in Putrajaya was cancelled by the Pakatan government.

Mohamad Sabu said the KSCIP’s temporary office at Menara HLA on Jalan Ampang was also ordered to be closed immediately and the Malaysia Institute of Defence and Security (Midas), under the Defence Ministry, would take over the roles and function of KSCIP to counter extremism.

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced during Saudi King Salman Abdul Aziz’s visit to Malaysia last year that they would allocate a large plot of land in Putrajaya to build the centre.