H.E. Mr. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, invited H.E. Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, to an Iftar banquet on Thursday evening, at the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan in the year 1444, corresponding to 23 March 2023, at the headquarters of the Consulate General of Malaysia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Upon His Excellency’s arrival at the consulate, the Malaysian PM held a meeting with him, during which he thanked him for accepting his invitation and meeting him following their last meeting before the previous elections in Kuala Lumpur. For his part, the Secretary General expressed his sincere congratulations and best wishes to H.E. Mr. Anwar Ibrahim on becoming the Prime Minister of Malaysia after a long struggle that lasted a quarter of a century. The Secretary General prayed that the new PM may win the trust of the Malaysian people, make success, and benefit his people and country. They then exchanged cordial conversations and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation, coordination, and partnership between the Academy and Malaysian scientific, intellectual, and religious institutions and centers.

At the end of the meeting, the Malaysian PM invited His Excellency to the Iftar banquet hosted by the Consulate General of Malaysia in honor of the Malaysian community living in Saudi Arabia.

It is worth noting that the friendship between both sides goes back three decades ago when the Secretary General had previously worked as a professor and vice president of the International Islamic University of Malaysia for sixteen (16) years, while the Prime Minister was then Deputy Prime Minister and President of the University.

In recognition of his efforts and outstanding contributions to the advancement of education in Malaysia in general, and the development of the International Islamic University in particular, His Majesty the late Sultan Ahmad Shah, may Allah have mercy on him, former King of Malaysia, awarded His Excellency the Datu Medal, in celebration of the thousands of graduates’ students who had studied under His Excellency.