Manama: The King of Bahrain, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, tonight hosted His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, at a State Banquet in the Sakhir Palace. The evening event began with a closed session specifically for the royal family at 7.30 pm (12.30 am Malaysian time).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, also accompanying Sultan Ibrahim were Tunku Temenggong Johor Tunku Idris Iskandar Al-Haj, Tunku Panglima Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj, and Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Al-Haj. The State Banquet was also attended by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin, and Malaysian Ambassador to Bahrain Datuk Shazryll Zahiran.

The official proceedings of the night included a recitation of verses from the Quran in the State Council Room, followed by addresses by King Hamad and Sultan Ibrahim. Sultan Ibrahim arrived here yesterday (Thursday), after concluding a four-day state visit to Saudi Arabia. This marks Sultan Ibrahim's sixth state visit after Singapore, China, Brunei, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, and also signifies a historic moment in Malaysia-Bahrain relations as the first royal visit since 1974.