M’sia receives aid from Saudi Arabia

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia received contributions from Saudi Arabia comprising one million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and over 4.5 million units of medical supplies, estimated to be worth RM21.14mil (US$5mil).

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein thanked the Saudi government for its contributions to assist Malaysia in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

“On behalf of Malaysia, I extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude especially to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this responsive move to ensure the contribution arrives only days after the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud decreed that the King Salman Centre for Relief and Humanitarian Action (KSRelief) provide urgent assistance including medical supplies to aid our country which is facing challenges posed by the pandemic,” said the Foreign Minister during a press conference at the handing-over ceremony of the medical supplies from Saudi Arabia at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia here yesterday.

Hishammuddin said this was not the first time that Saudi Arabia had extended Covid-19 assistance to Malaysia.

“In May 2020, Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries to contribute medical supplies, about eight million units to Malaysia.

“A contribution which was made based on our friendship. With the most recent contribution, Saudi Arabia is the single largest contributor of Covid-19 assistance to Malaysia thus far,” added Hishammuddin.

He said that support from its international allies showed Malaysia’s standing in the world.

Malaysia, Hishammuddin said, had received recognition from various countries in the form of continued support in handling the Covid-19 pandemic.

“If what we have planned does not make sense, I don’t think we will be given the due recognition and respect that we received in the last few months,” he added.

He noted that Malaysia had received contributions from other countries as well, including the United States, Japan, China and the United Kingdom.

“Today, I am also happy to announce that the vaccines contributed by the United Kingdom is scheduled to arrive next Tuesday,” he said.

Hishammuddin believed the bilateral and multilateral ties with these nations remain on a strong footing.

Also present at the event were Saudi ambassador Datuk Dr Mahmoud Hussien Saeed Qattan, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba and Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof.

Saudi Arabia’s aid to Malaysia comes following a request by Hishammuddin to Saudi’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Abdulaziz during a phone call recently.

“This aid is an affirmation of deep-rooted relations between the two countries and Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian role in helping the most affected countries,” said Hishammuddin.