Left: Ahmad Zahid (centre) chatting with Nasr (second from right) and other ambassadors at the reception. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
Egyptian Embassy hosted a grand reception in Kuala Lumpur to mark the National Day of the Arab republic.
With Egypt and Malaysia riding the crest of warm relations, it was the perfect event for Egyptian Ambassador to Malaysia Ragai Tawfik Said Nasr to play host.
The special guest was Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
The other ministers present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar and National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.
Ahmad Zahid (third from left) and Nasr with the four Malaysian beauty queens.
Also in attendance was Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
To begin the formalities, both Nik Nazmi and Nasr toasted to the well-being of both countries.
As guests mingled and the atmosphere livened up, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, a good friend of Nasr’s, walked into the hall, creating excitement.
Many of the foreign heads of mission present, especially those from the Arab countries, took the opportunity to chat with Ahmad Zahid.
Also turning heads were four Malaysian beauty queens who competed in the Egyptian tourist resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, South Sinai, in May.
They will represent Malaysia in another international pageant in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada this September.
Nasr said relations between Egypt and Malaysia were soaring, with several important developments in the bilateral sphere.
He cited the special four-day visit of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif (Sheikh Al-Azhar) Prof Dr Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, who is also chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders.
The envoy said Sheikh Al-Azhar was received by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, where both emphasised the importance of mutual cooperation in promoting dialogue and co-existence.
He said the Grand Imam also held fruitful discussions with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“On his part, the Grand Imam commended Malaysia’s exemplary Islamic model in respecting diversity and plurality, as well as its supportive stance on the issues facing the Muslim ummah,” said Nasr.
The envoy said a major development in bilateral relations lately was the significant progress in security cooperation.
Ahmad Zahid, in a Facebook post, stated that in an increasingly challenging global context, cooperation between Malaysia and Egypt was of utmost importance, mainly in the fields of education, culture and economy.
“May our relations continue to prosper!” he wrote.
Zambry said the close relations between the two countries were especially evident on the higher education front.
“Many of our students have been sent to the Al-Azhar University and other institutions in Egypt,” he added.
