Dispute in government over Emir of Qatar’s visit to Malaysia

CAIRO - 17 August 2017: Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani is set to visit
Putrajaya, Malaysia in September, causing dispute in the Malaysian government, according to the The Malaysian Insight.

The small-rich Gulf country, Qatar has experienced fallout since June with the Arab countries, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, over allegations that the small state is supporting and financing terrorism.

Disagreement took place in the Malaysian government, headed by the Malaysian President Abdul Razak Hussein, amid fears that this visit might cause tensions between Kuala Lumpur and the four Arab countries, according to Malaysian media.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman confirmed that the emir of Qatar will visit Malaysia, as it is an “impartial country” in the Gulf diplomatic crisis. While Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, asked for the visit to be delayed until the rift between Doha and the four countries is resolved.

The Malaysia Foreign Minister, according to the website, is “unhappy” that his ministry’s decision is being questioned; adding that the emir of Qatar “has been invited” and the visit cannot be delayed.

Last February, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the Malaysian prime minister’s deputy, invited the Qatari Emir to visit Malaysia when he was on a four-day official visit to Qatar.

Malaysia is one of three bases for the Qatari English Al Jazeera since 2006.

On June 5, 2017, several countries, including Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, severed diplomatic ties with Doha over accusations of Qatar backing and funding terrorist groups. The four Arab states boycotting Qatar sent Doha a list of 13 demands on June 23, including downgrading diplomatic ties with Iran and cutting off any joint military cooperation with it.