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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s decision to personally receive him at the airport and share a car ride during his two-day visit to Malaysia reflected the Malaysian leader’s “love and respect for India”, underscoring the warmth of bilateral ties.

 

Addressing the Indian diaspora at a community event in the Malaysian capital, Modi thanked Ibrahim for joining the celebrations and for articulating his vision for the future of India-Malaysia relations.

 

“The warmth of your greeting reflects the beautiful diversity of our shared culture. First of all, I thank my dear friend Anwar Ibrahim for joining the community celebration. I also thank him for his very kind words on the scale and future potential of India-Malaysia friendship in his speech just now,” Modi said.

 

Highlighting the personal nature of the welcome, the Prime Minister added, “Not just that, he came to the airport to welcome me, and he brought me here in his car. Not only his car but also his seat; this special gesture reflects his love and respect for India and for all of you.”

 

Also read: PM Modi receives red-carpet welcome in Kuala Lumpur

 

Modi arrived in Kuala Lumpur earlier in the day to a ceremonial reception, where he was received by Ibrahim, Malaysian Minister of Human Resources Dato’ Seri R Ramanan, and Deputy Foreign Minister Dato’ Lukanisman bin Awang Sauni, amid performances showcasing the shared cultural heritage of the two countries.

 

The Prime Minister noted that Malaysia holds a special place in India’s foreign policy and recalled his commitment to visit the country after being unable to attend the ASEAN Summit hosted by Kuala Lumpur last year.

 

“Last year, I could not visit Malaysia for the ASEAN Summit. But I promised my friend that I will come to Malaysia soon. As promised, I am here. This is my first foreign visit in 2026,” Modi said.

 

The visit aims to build on the India–Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, elevated in 2024, with discussions expected to focus on political cooperation, economic engagement, cultural ties, and people-to-people exchanges.