Is Malaysian PM Anwar’s snub from Saudi prince, failure to enter Kaaba a cause for concern?
- The domestic brouhaha over Anwar’s visit is partly explained by how any image of a Malaysian leader in front of the Kaaba will evoke Malays’ national pride
- Anwar’s failure to enter the Kaaba or meet the Saudi king and crown prince contrasts with former Malaysian leaders invited to do so
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The minor brouhaha concerning Anwar’s visit is partly explained by understanding the Malay psyche regarding Islam.
Given the Saudi ruling family’s status as custodian of the two sacred cities, it is often perceived as the defender of the Islamic faith. Any formal interaction with the family and any image of a Malay leader in front of the Kaaba is therefore bound to evoke Malaysian Malays’ emotions and national pride.
By extension, any official visit by a Malaysian Malay politician to the two sacred cities with an invitation to enter the Kaaba and meet senior Saudi leaders would burnish the former’s credentials as a Muslim leader.
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Visits to Saudi Arabia are also important for Malaysian leaders to score political points as they negotiate possible haj quota increases for their Muslim citizens.
The Saudi Arabian government has approved a haj quota for Malaysia of 31,600 for 2023, an increase from last year’s 14,306, when some pandemic restrictions were still in place. For 2024, Malaysia aims to raise the quota to 31,950 pilgrims.
However, opportunistic misuse of such visits can backfire. In 2021, PN leader and former trade and industry minister Azmin Ali, who posted a picture of himself mopping the floor of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, was heavily criticised by his political opponents. His act was deemed by some netizens as a political stunt and cheap publicity.
It is difficult to conclude whether Anwar’s first official visit to Saudi Arabia as prime minister “failed”. Despite not meeting the two top leaders, Anwar held important meetings with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the World Muslim League in Mecca. Additionally, he witnessed the signing of several MOUs involving industries and businesses, and met Malaysians living there.
Anwar reiterated that Saudi Arabia is an important country and that he was open to starting talks on resuming operations of the King Salman Centre for International Peace (KSCIP) in Malaysia.
The centre was set up during Najib’s tenure as prime minister with the aim of combating terrorism but was shut down during Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) administration in 2018. This was reportedly done without consulting the Saudis. In August 2018, Umno had loudly criticised this decision, warning the PH administration that it could jeopardise Malaysia-Saudi ties.
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Mohammed Sabu, then defence minister, said his ministry would eventually take control of the centre. Anwar’s suggestion to resume the KSCIP’s operations could be a bid to address PH’s past “mistake”.
Another possible blunder by the previous PH administration was its organisation of the Kuala Lumpur Summit in 2019 that was widely seen as undermining the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
The current opposition in Malaysia might be taking advantage of Anwar’s failure to meet the top Saudi leaders and enter the Kaaba by criticising him for the latest diplomatic blunder. There is no clear evidence, however, that Malaysia-Saudi ties are on the rocks.