TUN ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI ATTENDED THE 47TH. ANNUAL PLENARY MEETING OF THE INTERACTION COUNCIL IN SAUDI ARABIA

Former Prime Minister YABhg.Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi accompanied by Tun Jeanne Abdullah visited Saudi Arabia from 9 -14 May 2009, to attend the 47^th.Annual Plenary Meeting of the InterAction Council (IAC) at King Abdullah Economic City in Rabegh. The 3-day forum (10-13 May) was opened by HRH Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Governor of Makkah Region. The meeting deliberated on the present state of the world, energy availability as well as new opportunities for the world.

On 12 May 2009, delegates of the conference were taken on a tour of the nearly completed (90 %), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) campus. KAUST is a research based university scheduled to receive its first batch of post-graduate students in September 2009. During the visit, Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi took the opportunity to meet a number of Malaysian engineers working at the site. There are over 70 Malaysian engineers working for Ranhill Malaysia who together with Saudi Consult are the Project Management Consultant for the KAUST campus construction project.

On 13 May, the IAC delegates including Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi were received in audience by His Majesty King Abdullah in Riyadh. Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi and Tun Jeanne Abdullah left the Kingdom on 14 May 2009.

CONSULATE GENERAL OF MALAYSIA

JEDDAH

16 MAY 2009