PM Modi arrives in Malaysia, warmly received by Anwar Ibrahim; both share a car ride

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Malaysia on Saturday for a two-day official visit, during which he will hold bilateral talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

This is Modi’s third visit to Malaysia and his first since India and Malaysia elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in August 2024, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

Warm welcome by Malaysian leadership and diaspora

Modi was received at the airport by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who greeted him warmly. A large number of members of the Indian diaspora were present to welcome the Prime Minister. Schoolchildren holding Indian and Malaysian flags lined the red carpet as the two leaders walked together before travelling in the same car to the official hotel.

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Focus on defence, security and economic ties

Earlier in the day, Modi said he was visiting Malaysia at the invitation of his “friend”, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and underlined India’s intent to deepen defence and security cooperation with Malaysia.

In his departure statement, Modi said India–Malaysia relations have made steady progress in recent years and expressed confidence that the visit would further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

“We will aim to deepen our defence and security ties, enhance our economic and innovation partnership, and expand our collaboration into new domains,” he said.

Engagement with Indian diaspora

Modi said he was looking forward to interacting with the Indian community in Malaysia, which numbers close to three million and is among the largest Indian diasporas globally. He described the community as a living bridge between the two countries and a strong foundation for their historic friendship.

Official engagements and MoUs

Official engagements will begin on Sunday with a welcome ceremony at the Perdana Putra Building, the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office, followed by a visit to Seri Perdana, the Prime Minister’s official residence. The schedule includes a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders, delegation-level talks, the exchange of memoranda of understanding, and joint press statements. An official lunch hosted by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will conclude the visit before Modi returns to India.

Defence cooperation on the agenda

India is exploring opportunities to expand defence cooperation during the visit, including the sale of Dornier aircraft and support for the maintenance of Scorpene submarines and SU-30 aircraft, the MEA said.

India–Malaysia relations

India established diplomatic relations with the Federation of Malaya in 1957. Bilateral ties were further strengthened in the 1960s through the close personal relationship between Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, according to the MEA.

Malaysia is home to around 2.75 million Persons of Indian Origin, making it the second-largest PIO community globally and the third-largest Indian diaspora worldwide, at about 2.9 million.

India’s major exports to Malaysia include mineral fuels and oils, aluminium and related products, meat and edible offal, iron and steel, copper and related articles, organic chemicals, machinery, and electrical equipment. Key imports from Malaysia include palm oil, mineral fuels and oils, electrical machinery and equipment, animal and vegetable fats and oils, and industrial machinery.