KUALA LUMPUR:Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah left for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, today for a five-day special visit.
Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the special visit is at the invitation of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan.
“The main agenda of this special visit involves discussions between Al-Sultan Abdullah and Sheikh Mohamed Zayed and the top leadership of the UAE government regarding their intention to donate 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Malaysia for the purpose of the third phase of the clinical test in the country,” he said in a statement issued by Istana Negara today.
Ahmad Fadil said Al-Sultan Abdullah will also discuss about the efforts to strengthen and enhance Malaysia-UAE bilateral ties and cooperation in various sectors.
During the special visit, the King is also scheduled to attend a meet-and-greet programme with the Malaysian diaspora in UAE and visit the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and the Abu Dhabi COVID-19 Vaccination Centre.
In order to ensure safety and compliance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to curb the spread of COVID-19, Ahmad Fadil said the King’s special visit is also subject to the SOP set by both the Malaysian and the UAE governments.
“In complying with the SOP, Al-Sultan Abdullah and all members of the royal delegation have already taken their COVID-19 test four days (96 hours) before their departure to Abu Dhabi, and will take another test upon arrival at the Abu Dhabi International Airport,” he said.
Al-Sultan Abdullah and his delegation will also undergo COVID-19 screenings before departing from Abu Dhabi and upon arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s Bunga Raya Complex.
Upon return, His Majesty will undergo self-quarantine for 10 days at Istana Negara as required by the Ministry of Health, while other members of the delegation, at locations stipulated by the ministry.
Ahmad Fadil said the special visit is Al-Sultan Abdullah’s third visit to Abu Dhabi after the first in June 2019 and the second, a private visit at the invitation of Sheikh Mohamed Zayed, in November the same year.
Sheikh Mohamed Zayed had also visited Malaysia last year at the invitation of Al-Sultan Abdullah in conjunction with the King’s installation on July 30, 2019.
The UAE is Malaysia’s largest trading partner in the West Asian region with a bilateral trade value of US$6.42 billion (RM25.9 billion) in 2019.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Fri Dec 18 2020
Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the special visit is at the invitation of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan. - Facebook @IstanaNegaraOfficial
Public flips car involved in road accident to rescue child
According to JBPM, members of the public at the scene took initial action to rescue the victim before the fire brigade arrived.
Ramsay reveals hundreds of lucky cat statues stolen from new restaurant
Gordon Ramsay says about 477 Japanese cat models called maneki-neko were stolen from his Lucky Cat 22 Bishopsgate restaurant.
Zayn Rayyan case: Two child witnesses complete testimony today
So far, 20 prosecution witnesses, including the two children, have been called for this trial, according to the Deputy Public Prosecutor.
Macron says he will tell Trump not to be weak with Putin in Washington visit
Emmanuel Macron says showing any weakness to Russia's Vladimir Putin would make it harder to deal with China and Iran.
Israeli PM Netanyahu says Hamas will pay for not returning Shiri Bibas
Netanyahu accuse Hamas of acting "in an unspeakably cynical manner" by placing body of a Gaza woman in the coffin instead of Shiri Bibas.
Trump pulls US out of key global climate assessment, sources say
The US is a co-chair along with Malaysia of a working group on climate mitigation, or ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Japan to court Tesla on Nissan investment, FT reports
The group hopes Tesla will invest strategically, believing it's interested in acquiring Nissan's US plants, the report says.
185 children linked to GISB handed over to families - Exco
The children have been handed over to their families on bond with conditions by the court.
IRS fires 6,000 employees as Trump slashes US government
The move will eliminate roughly 6% of the agency's workforce in the midst of the busy tax-filing season.
Elon Musk wields chainsaw at conservative gathering, a gift from Argentina's Milei
This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy, says Elon Musk.
![[OPINION] For never again the world must know more about the Khojaly genocide](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/41740112820_KhazarUniversity.jpg "[OPINION] For never again the world must know more about the Khojaly genocide")
[OPINION] For never again the world must know more about the Khojaly genocide
For Azerbaijanis, the Khojaly genocide is more than a historical event - it is a collective trauma that shapes their identity and worldview.
Israeli military says body released by Hamas is not of a hostage
Two bodies were identified as infants, but a third, believed to be their mother, Shiri, didn't match any hostage and remains unidentified.
Key takeaways from Trump-Putin talks: Ukraine, energy, NATO, sanctions
Here's what is known so far about what was discussed.
![[COLUMNIST] Whose rights? Islam, eurocentrism and the limits of human rights](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-09/41726025526_UnitedNations.jpg "[COLUMNIST] Whose rights? Islam, eurocentrism and the limits of human rights")
[COLUMNIST] Whose rights? Islam, eurocentrism and the limits of human rights
For as long as rights are understood on Occidental terms, problems would inevitably remain. What is needed is an appreciation of diversity.
Argentina court clears 3 accused in singer Liam Payne's death
The court upheld the pre-trial detention of a hotel employee and a restaurant waiter held since last month.
Spanish ex-soccer boss Rubiales sentenced to pay fine over kiss without consent
Court also acquits Luis Rubiales' three co-defendants accused of attempting to coerce Jenni Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual.
King’s health significantly improved after treatment - PM
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he had the opportunity to seek an audience with the King twice during his official visit to Bahrain.
Why Trump wants the US Department of Education shut down
The vast majority of US children attend the country's free public schools, which are a big employer and economic engine.
How did a jet flip upside down on a Toronto runway and everyone survive?
Here is what we know about this accident and similar crashes.
TIMELINE - Trump's remarks on plan to take over Gaza, displace Palestinians
The plan has been condemned globally, with Palestinians, Arab nations and rights experts saying it was tantamount to "ethnic cleansing."