Malaysia’s Mahathir hits foreign policy speed bump after controversial Kuala Lumpur Summit

The event managed to upset not just Saudi Arabia and its allies, but Morocco and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well

Not all the country’s diplomatic efforts this year have been so divisive, however, with its overtures towards Beijing and Tokyo winning applause

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Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:30am, 31 Dec 2019Updated: 8:55am, 31 Dec 2019

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad may have spent much of 2019 trying to keep a lid on domestic political battles, but as the year comes to an end his ruling coalition is finding itself caught up in diplomatic skirmishes as well.

At the centre of Pakatan Harapan’s current foreign policy predicament is the fallout following a summit of Islamic nations it hosted earlier in December outside the auspices of the Saudi Arabia-dominated Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Riyadh saw the Kuala Lumpur Summit as an affront to its de facto leadership of the Sunni Muslim world, especially since the leaders of its three top regional rivals – Qatar, Turkey and Iran – were invited to the forum and given the honour of delivering keynote speeches.

Despite receiving invitations, the Saudis – along with allies such as the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain – stayed away from the summit.

Iranian President Hassan Rowhani delivers a speech at the Kuala Lumpur Summit. Photo: AP

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, who hatched the idea for the forum with Mahathir last year, pulled out at the last minute after reportedly coming under pressure from the Saudis.