“Hishammuddin and I have long been working very well and closely with each other on many occasions,” he said in a statement today.

He added that Putrajaya was looking forward to the state visit by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, and that the foreign ministry along with other government agencies were making the necessary preparations.

“On the broader issue of the ongoing difficulties between the Arab Quartet and Qatar, the Malaysian government’s position has been made very clear through the statement issued by the prime minister on July 12, 2017,” he said.

Anifah was responding to a report by The Malaysian Insight yesterday which said a spat had erupted in the Najib administration over the Emir’s visit, with regards to the rift between the Gulf state and its Saudi Arabia-led neighbours.

According to the report, Anifah is in support of the meeting while Hishammuddin, who is also the special functions minister, wants the trip delayed until a peace deal is arranged between the Middle East nations.