Kuala Lumpur, February 7: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Malaysia on Saturday for a two-day visit. Upon his arrival, he was welcomed with a vibrant display of local dance, which he graciously acknowledged and appreciated.
Addressing the Indian community in Kuala Lumpur, PM Modi stated, “India is seen as a reliable partner for development. Whether it is the UK, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Oman, the EU, or the USA, these countries have trade deals with India. Trust has become India’s strongest currency.”
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was also present at the event. PM Modi emphasized, “India’s success is Malaysia’s success. It is Asia’s success. Therefore, I say that the guiding word for our relationship is IMPACT. IMPACT stands for India-Malaysia Partnership for Advancing Collective Transformation.”
At the airport, PM Modi received a warm welcome from his Malaysian counterpart, accompanied by Malaysia’s Human Resources Minister Ramnath Ramakrishnan and Deputy Foreign Minister Lukanisman bin Awang Sauni. Following this, a cultural reception showcased the shared heritage of both nations.
The purpose of this visit is to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2024. It also reflects India’s strong commitment to enhancing relations with Malaysia, which is a key pillar of New Delhi’s Act East Policy, Indo-Pacific vision, and maritime outlook.
In his speech, PM Modi highlighted that Malaysia is home to the world’s second-largest Indian-origin community, which serves as a robust bridge between the two countries.
During the community program in Kuala Lumpur, PM Modi mentioned, “Recently, I spoke about you in my radio program, Mann Ki Baat. I shared with 1.4 billion Indians how over 500 schools in Malaysia teach children in Indian languages. The way you have preserved traditions for centuries is remarkable.”
He noted that members of the Tamil community in Malaysia are serving society in various fields. Inspired by this long history, he expressed pride in establishing the Thiruvalluvar Chair at Malaya University and announced plans to create a Thiruvalluvar Center to further strengthen their shared heritage.
He added, “You should also bring your Malay friends along, as people-to-people contact is the foundation of our friendship. We look forward to seeing you in the Know India program. You will be pleased to know that we are soon opening a new Indian consulate in Malaysia, which will bring us even closer. Just a few months ago, we made a historic decision to extend the eligibility for OCI cards to the sixth generation of Indian-origin Malaysians.”