Arab journalist opined that the Saudi govt had not funded any extremists
Saudi Editor, Khaled Al Maeena. (Photo: DC)
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Veteran journalist and Saudi Gazette's chief editor, Khaled Al Maeena feels that it is high time Kerala is projected as a visiting place for education, tourism and scientific research.
Speaking on Gulf states and West Asia relations with India at the Press Club here, the Arab journalist opined that the Saudi government had not funded any extremists. He also said that ISIS was an organisation that sprang out suddenly out of nowhere and that it was not a creation of Saudi Arabia. It was being financed by some individuals, he said.
Al Maeena, who has a high regard for Malayalis, said that ever since he joined as chief editor of Arab News in 1982, not a single day had passed without him bumping into a Malayali, except when he travelled abroad. He recalled how his printing manager had shouted at him expressing reservations about a particular font which he used when he started his career as a journalist at the age of 27 years. He also fondly remembered how a Malayali tea boy came to his rescue then from an embarrassing situation.
“There should be a two-way communication between Kerala and Saudi Arabia. Stringent laws should be brought out to stem pollution in tourist destinations like Kumarakom,” said Al Maeena who was one of the four journalists to cover the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Russia in 1990.
Al Maeena, who is considered to be very close with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulla, also opined that India’s image as a country which sends cheap labour should be removed. He denied that there were any concerted efforts from the Saudi Government to fund extremists, but he maintained that a lot of money in the form of charity towards schools and hospitals had been generated.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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