MUSCAT: Oman's Social Development Minister Dr Sharifa Bint Khalfan Al Yahya'eyah said Monday that the visit by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to Oman will go a long way in forging closer relations between the sultanate and Malaysia at various levels.
"From the Omani perspective, the visit by Datin Seri Rosmah is helpful and useful and will contribute in strengthening cooperation and relations between Oman and Malaysia at the governmental, as well as people-to-people levels," she said.
Dr Sharifa told the Malaysian media this at the end of her courtesy visit to Rosmah, wife of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, at the Al Bustan Palace Intercontinental hotel here.
Their hour-long discussions focused on, among others, early childhood education and care, as well as ways to bring about further social development.
Rosmah took the opportunity to highlight the need to give special attention to gifted and talented children, saying that Malaysia was in the position to offer guidance to Oman on this matter.
Dr Sharifa hoped both sides could further share experience in many areas, including early childhood education, under the Permata programme championed by Rosmah.
Rosmah, who arrived in Oman's capital Muscat Sunday, is making a four-day visit to the sultanate as a guest of the government of Oman.
She has the distinction of being the first Malaysian dignitary in 20 years to have been accorded that status. The then Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King), Sultan Azlan Shah, visited Oman back in 1991.
Rosmah was joined by several members of the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) at the session with Dr Sharifa.
Also in attendance were the charge d'affaires at the Malaysian Embassy in Muscat, Mohamad Norhisyam Mohamad Yusof, and high-ranking officials from Dr Sharifa's ministry.
Rosmah explained to the Omanis that Bakti's charity and welfare work had not only benefited Malaysians but also people in calamity-hit places such as Pakistan and Haiti.
According to her, Bakti members had no qualms about rolling up their sleeves to help people in dire straits.
Rosmah told the Omanis that Bakti was also a reflection of the multi-ethnic Malaysian society, and that its members celebrated each other's festivals and diversity freely.
Dr Sharifa observed that what Bakti was doing, broke the stereotypical image of women of high social status being out of touch with what was happening around them.
"For you to be in touch with the people, just like what any other non-governmental organisation does, shows that you're breaking certain traditions and norms that many ministers' wives have, that is living in some sort of ivory tower," she said.
Rosmah also conveyed warm regards from Najib to the Ruler of Oman, Sultan Qaboos, as well as to its ministers and the Omani people.
She thanked the monarch and her Omani hosts for the warm reception and generous hospitality accorded to her and members of her delegation during the visit.
A first-time visitor to Oman, Rosmah said she was bowled over by the country's beauty and friendly people.
"I've described to my husband how beautiful Oman is. I think that Muscat is very clean and very well-organised," she said.
She hoped that more Malaysians would visit this Gulf state located in the southeastern quarter of the Arabian Peninsula.
"My understanding is that a lot of Omanis visit Malaysia every year and that some have even bought property in our country. This is a good indication of how close ties between Malaysia and Oman are," she said.
Rosmah attended a banquet dinner hosted in her honour by Dr Sharifa at the hotel Sunday night.
Among those who graced the ladies-only affair were several princesses from the Omani royal family.
Source: BERNAMA and The New Straits Times
