KUALA LUMPUR: New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters was captivated by the stunning design and facilities of the iconic Masjid Negara here.

During his visit to the National Mosque on Saturday (June 8), Peters, who is also the Foreign Minister of New Zealand, expressed his admiration after being briefed about the mosque by Attan Akmar, a representative of the Volunteer Islamic Outreach Abim Centre (IOAC) Masjid Tour Guide Programme, and Ehsan Mohd Hosni, the Grand Imam of Masjid Negara.

Attan welcomed Peters upon his arrival at 11am. Peters was then taken on a tour of the main prayer hall of Masjid Negara, where he was briefed by Attan and Ehsan.

Peters spent around 20 minutes exploring the mosque, learning about its history, design, and various programmes of the National Mosque.

“Peters was impressed with Masjid Negara. He also shared his experiences of visiting many mosques in various countries, but he stated that Masjid Negara stands out with its modern design while still retaining Islamic features,” Attan, who has served as a volunteer with the IOAC-Masjid Negara Guide Programme for three years, told reporters on Saturday.

Masjid Negara was built between 1963 and 1965. It has a capacity of 15,000 people and is situated among 5.26ha of beautiful gardens.

Peters and his delegation arrived in the country on Thursday (June 6).

Malaysia is Peters’ second stop on his Southeast Asian tour after Vietnam, a trip that demonstrates New Zealand’s policy of prioritising cooperation with this dynamically developing region. – Bernama