Where History Meets Horizon: Modi’s Malaysia Visit for a Viksit Bharat
- Joydeep Chakraborty
- 19 hours ago
- 6 min read
From Tamil verses to INA memories, history walked hand in hand with the present.
As India looks east with renewed purpose, Malaysia emerged as the natural starting point for Prime Minister Modi’s overseas engagements in 2026. On 7–8 February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Malaysia at the invitation of Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, marking his first foreign trip of the year and the third since 2015.
The visit carried both symbolic and strategic weight, reinforcing Malaysia’s central place in India’s Act East Policy, Indo-Pacific vision, and Vision MAHASAGAR, while propelling the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2024 toward tangible outcomes.
At a time of global uncertainty, economic recalibration, and complex geopolitics, the visit reflected a shared conviction that partnerships anchored in history, democratic values, and people-centric engagement are essential for regional stability and sustainable growth.
A Warm Welcome Reflecting Enduring Friendship
Upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, he received a rare personal welcome from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, accompanied by Malaysia’s Minister of Human Resources Dato’ Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan and Deputy Foreign Minister Dato’ Lukanisman bin Awang Sauni. A vibrant cultural reception followed, celebrating the shared civilisational heritage of the two nations.
Modi greeted the audience with “Namaskar” and “Selamat pagi,” acknowledging the hospitality and recalling a promise to make Malaysia one of his earliest overseas visits after missing last year’s ASEAN Summit.
If history provided the foundation of India–Malaysia ties, the conversations in Kuala Lumpur focused squarely on the future. The warm reception symbolised a strong personal rapport, setting an optimistic tone for the two-day engagement.
Civilisational Ties and Maritime Neighbourhood
Prime Minister Modi highlighted that India and Malaysia share a centuries-old connection as maritime neighbours, reinforced by cultural, linguistic, and democratic traditions. Malaysia hosts nearly 2.8–3 million people of Indian origin, the second-largest diaspora globally, which is also a living bridge between the two societies. Indian languages, cuisine, festivals, and philosophies have flourished, creating enduring bonds.
During the India–Malaysia diaspora event in Kuala Lumpur, over 800 dancers performed Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Yakshagana, and other classical and folk forms, later recognised in the Malaysian Book of Records as the largest Indian cultural performance of its kind. Modi also referenced that over 500 Malaysian schools teach Indian languages, making it a striking testament to cultural preservation.
Prime Minister Modi noted, “From Tamil verses to INA memories, history walked hand in hand with the present,” underlining how past connections strengthen present collaboration and future potential.
High-Level Talks and Strategic Vision
Modi received a ceremonial welcome at the Perdana Putra complex before engaging in restricted and delegation-level discussions with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at Seri Perdana. The talks reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, taking stock since the elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024.
Key areas included trade, investment, defence, maritime cooperation, clean energy, infrastructure, agriculture, start-ups, education, healthcare, Ayurveda, and tourism. Both leaders emphasised emerging domains such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.
The discussions underscored the urgency that, in a complex global environment, the partnership must advance with greater speed, ambition, and scale, guided by trust and strategic convergence.
Security Cooperation and a Firm Stand Against Terrorism
Security collaboration was central to the dialogue. Modi and Anwar agreed to strengthen counter-terrorism measures, intelligence sharing, maritime security, and defence cooperation. Modi thanked Malaysia for condemning the Pahalgam terror attack and Red Fort blast, stressing that terrorism tolerates no double standards.
Defence ties will expand via joint exercises, training programs, and capacity-building initiatives, fostering trust and interoperability between the armed forces. These measures reflect a shared understanding: security in the Indo-Pacific requires both resilience and regional collaboration.
Economic Engagement and the CEO Forum
Economic ties remain a cornerstone. India–Malaysia bilateral trade reached nearly USD 20 billion in FY 2024–25, making Malaysia one of India’s top three ASEAN partners. Cumulative Malaysian FDI into India exceeded USD 1.2 billion between 2000 and 2025, while Indian companies have invested over USD 2.5 billion in Malaysia, spanning IT, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, and manufacturing. Over 100 Indian IT and digital companies operate in Malaysia, supporting its technology ecosystem. India is also a major source of skilled foreign workers, with over 200,000 Indians employed across sectors.
The 10th India–Malaysia CEO Forum on 7 February provided a platform to explore business opportunities, producing an outcome document formally received by both Prime Ministers. Modi met Malaysian industry leaders, including Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik (PETRONAS) and Tan Sri Vincent Tan (Berjaya), highlighting India’s reform-driven growth and stable policy environment. Priority sectors included infrastructure, renewable energy, AI, semiconductors, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. Malaysian leaders expressed strong confidence in India’s trajectory toward Viksit Bharat 2047.
Digital Transformation and Fintech Collaboration
Digital innovation featured prominently. Progress under the bilateral Digital Council and the agreement linking India’s UPI with Malaysia’s PayNet promises seamless UPI-based payments for tourists, students, and professionals.
The initiative is not merely transactional as it signals a broader commitment to fintech collaboration, AI, IT services, digital public infrastructure, and data-driven innovation. By integrating digital transformation into bilateral growth strategies, India and Malaysia aim to harness technology as a core driver of sustainable prosperity.
Landmark Agreements and Institutional Frameworks
The visit yielded a wide array of agreements covering:
Digital payments and fintech
Security cooperation and counter-terrorism
Semiconductors and advanced technologies
Health, medicine, and traditional systems
Disaster management and anti-corruption
Audio-visual co-production
Technical and vocational education
UN peacekeeping cooperation
Social security for Indian workers
Malaysia also completed accession to the International Big Cat Alliance, reflecting shared environmental stewardship. These frameworks institutionalise cooperation, supporting innovation, economic transformation, and long-term stability.
Diaspora Engagement: A Living Bridge
Modi’s engagement with the Indian diaspora resonated deeply. Addressing a gathering attended by Prime Minister Anwar, he greeted the audience in multiple Indian languages, celebrating the diversity of Malaysia’s three-million-strong Indian-origin community.
The Torana Gate in Kuala Lumpur’s Brickfields, inaugurated in 2015, symbolises the enduring friendship between the nations, while the Social Security Agreement for Indian workers and free e-visas highlight the tangible benefits of people-centric diplomacy. Modi called the diaspora a “living bridge,” central to sustaining cultural, educational, and economic ties.
Celebrating Culture, Language, and Shared Heritage
Cultural diplomacy was a highlight. Modi witnessed students from the Malaysia Hindu Sangam performing Tirumurai devotional songs, reflecting centuries-old preservation of Indian religious heritage. Leaders announced the establishment of a Thiruvalluvar Chair and an upcoming Thiruvalluvar Centre at Universiti Malaya, celebrating Tamil literary heritage and academic collaboration.
During the diaspora event, over 800 dancers showcased India’s classical and folk repertoire, cementing the vibrancy of shared traditions. Modi praised Malaysia’s embrace of Indian films and music, noting Anwar Ibrahim’s love for singing Tamil and Hindi classics. These initiatives preserve language, literature, and memory, creating bridges that endure beyond policy frameworks.
Honouring History and Shared Sacrifice
Modi paid tribute to Indian-origin communities whose ancestors contributed to India’s freedom struggle. He recalled Malaysia’s links to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army, meeting veterans such as Dato’ Jeyaraj Raja Rao. These encounters reaffirmed India’s commitment to remembering shared sacrifices while nurturing future generations’ understanding of history.
Expanding Opportunities for Youth and Students
Recognising youth as central to future bilateral ties, Modi emphasised education, skill development, start-ups, and innovation. Initiatives include:
Extending OCI card eligibility to the sixth generation of Malaysian citizens of Indian origin
Expanding the Know India Programme
Replenishing the Indian Scholarships Trust Fund for Malaysian Indian students
These measures ensure that cultural, educational, and professional engagement flourishes across generations, sustaining the human bridge between the two nations.
ASEAN, Indo-Pacific, and Global Governance
At the regional level, both leaders reaffirmed ASEAN centrality and Indo-Pacific cooperation. Modi congratulated Malaysia for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, while Anwar expressed support for India’s BRICS Presidency in 2026. They underscored the urgency of completing the ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) review and advocated reform of global institutions to reflect contemporary realities.
A Partnership for Collective Transformation
Prime Minister Modi concluded by appreciating Anwar Ibrahim’s personal commitment to India–Malaysia relations. The leaders outlined a shared vision for 2047 under the framework of IMPACT: India–Malaysia Partnership for Advancing Collective Transformation.
The visit strengthened trust, expanded sectoral cooperation, and positioned the bilateral relationship as resilient, forward-looking, and people-centric. As India looks east and Malaysia continues its strategic ascent, the partnership stands as both a product of history and a compass for a shared, prosperous future.