Malaysia Hall’s canteen closed to foreigners due to thefts

Malaysia Hall’s canteen closed to foreigners due to thefts

Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah says foreign guests will be allowed in at the discretion of the personnel on duty.

There have been reports of passports being stolen at the Malaysia Hall canteen. (Facebook pic)
KUANTAN:
Foreigners are not allowed at the Malaysia Hall canteen in London because of frequent incidents of theft, said Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.

He said this included the theft of passports.

“However, the decision does not affect or involve Malaysian nationals as they only need to present their identification documents to enter (the Malaysia Hall canteen)… there is no problem for them.

“If they come with foreign nationals, the matter can be considered at the discretion of the personnel involved,” he said after launching the Futsal Championship for Indera Mahkota Parliamentary constituency at Gelanggang Futsal Kampung Tiram, here, today.

Saifuddin disclosed this when asked to comment on a media report yesterday about the closure of the Malaysia Hall canteen to foreigners and the stricter security checks on Malaysian nationals wishing to have their meals there.

Saifuddin also described the Malaysia Hall canteen operating at Queensborough Terrace, London, as unique because it was the only embassy that opened its canteen to outsiders wishing to have local food at subsidised prices.

When asked to comment on the statement by Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Abel Ahmed Al Jubeir over the RM2.6 billion given to former prime minister Najib Razak, he said the matter depended on the investigation to be carried out.

“The statement made by Abel in 2016 is not within my jurisdiction and I believe the investigators can evaluate his statement… what is important is that he will cooperate on the issue,” he said.

Saifuddin also explained that his meeting with Abel yesterday was the second time the two had met after previously meeting at the United Nations (UN) assembly in New York last month.

“In New York, Abel had confirmed that the money was not from the Saudi Arabian government or King Salman’s family and yesterday, I did not ask, and yet he repeated the same statement,” he said.

Commenting on Jeli MP Mustapa Mohamed’s decision to join PPBM last night, Saifuddin who is also head of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretariat, said it was within the principles agreed upon by all parties in the coalition.

“PH has the Presidential Council and there had been discussions on the entry of leaders and members of other parties, including from Umno, who wished to join any party within PH.

“There are two principles held by PH namely, all parties are free to manage their own affairs and the developments occurring within the respective parties will be reported periodically at the Presidential Council.

“We believe every party has its own reasons on who they want to bring into their party,” he said, adding that the next Presidential Council meeting is scheduled for Nov 3.

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