Jordan Times
Friday, October 14, 2005
Jordan, Malaysia agree to boost ties
KUALA LUMPUR (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah
on Thursday held talks with Malaysian King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin on bilateral
ties and challenges facing the Muslim world.
The talks, which were held at Istana Negara Palace, also covered the situation
in the Middle East, including the Iraqi issue.
The two sides agreed on going ahead with efforts to enhance their ties to serve
their common interests, especially in the economic, cultural and scientific
fields.
They stressed the need for Muslim countries to join ranks and stand up against
attempts to distort Islam's image by linking the faith to terrorism. Such
efforts, they said, should be based on the Amman Message and a project launched
by Malaysian Prime Abdullah Ahmad Badawi under the name “Al Islam Al Hadhari” or
civilised Islam.
The project, according to Islam Online, highlights the importance of progress —
with an Islamic perspective — in the economic, social and political fields.
The Amman Message was issued last year upon the directives of King Abdullah to
spell out Jordan's stand on true Islam and its relation with other religions and
cultures. The document was Jordan's answer to extremist approaches to Islam that
sanction violence and terrorism in the name of religion.
In his talks with King Sirajuddin, the King renewed his call on Muslim countries
to join a campaign he launched to defend Islam and clarify its true essence as a
faith that promotes coexistence, justice and equality.
The Malaysian press, meanwhile, said the Amman Message and the King's campaign
were in harmony with Al Islam Al Hadhari initiative.
For his part, Badawi, who attended King Abdullah's talks with King Sirajuddin,
said both initiatives call for a return to the genuine values of Islam as
professed in the Holy Koran and the Prophet Mohammad's Hadith (tradition).
In their discussion of regional developments, King Abdullah reviewed Jordan's
contributions to efforts to achieve a just solution to the Palestinian cause and
restore security and stability in Iraq. He pointed out the role Malaysia plays
as a member of the international Muslim community.
King Sirajuddin, who praised King Abdullah's services to the Muslim nation, held
an iftar banquet in honour of the King and the accompanying delegates. The two
monarchs and the attendees performed Maghrib (dusk) prayers.
In remarks to the press after the talks, Malaysian Minister of Islamic Affairs
Abdullah Mohammad Zein said the King's visit to Malaysia helped strengthen
bilateral ties, reiterating his country's support for the Amman Message.
The talks were attended by King's Personal Envoy and Special Adviser HRH Prince
Ghazi, Royal Court Chief Faisal Fayez, Deputy Director of National Security and
acting Director of the King's Office Marouf Bakhit, Foreign Minister Farouq
Qasrawi and Jordan's Ambassador to Malaysia Hassan Jawarneh.
The King arrived in Kuala Lumpur on the second leg of a three-day tour that took
him to Indonesia on Wednesday. He is to visit Pakistan for talks with President
Pervez Musharraf.