Saudi King Salman highlights importance of OIC ahead of rival Islamic summit

Cairo: Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz has highlighted the role of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), ahead of a mini-Muslim summit in Malaysia thought to be aimed at replacing the Saudi-based Islamic bloc.

The Saudi monarch “has emphasised the importance of joint Islamic action through the OIC to achieve unity of ranks in discussing all issues of concern for the Islamic nation,” the official Saudi news agency reported.

The remark came in a telephone call that King Salman received Tuesday night from the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad, according to the agency.

The Malaysian premier has recently called for setting up an Islamic alliance to address major Muslim problems and Islamophobia.

Some analysts see the envisaged coalition as aimed at replacing the OIC, a 57-member bloc headquartered in the Saudi city of Jeddah.

Leaders of of Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan and Qatar have been invited to the Malaysia summit.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan will not attend, according to media reports.