Modi: Indian Diaspora A Strong Link With Malaysia

Earlier, the Prime Minister landed in Kuala Lumpur for a two-day visit to a grand red-carpet reception, with Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim receiving him at the airport, signalling a new momentum in the bilateral ties. Modi and Ibrahim will hold bilateral talks on Sunday.

From the airport, the two PMs travelled in the same car to the venue where Modi addressed the Indian community. In his address, Modi said, “Ibrahim came to the airport to welcome me, and he brought me here in his car. Not only his car but also his seat. These special gestures reflect his love and respect for India and for all of you. I am grateful for your warm words, hospitality and friendship."

Malaysian Indians largely comprise Tamils, Malayalees, Telugus and some Punjabis and other North Indians. The Prime Minister complimented the Indians living there for connecting India with Malaysia. “You have connected roti chanai with the Malabar paratha, coconut, spices and of course the tareek. The flavours feel so familiar, whether it is in Kuala Lumpur or Kochi. We understand each other so well. It must be due to the large number of common words between our languages and Malay. I have heard that Indian movies and music are popular in Malaysia,” said Modi.

The Prime Minister thanked the Indian diaspora for standing up for India in its hour of need, such as the Gujarat earthquake of 2001, and before that, for supporting India’s freedom movement. “…The Indian diaspora is a valuable partner. Whether you were born in Kuala Lumpur or Kolkata, India lives in your hearts. You are an active part of Malaysia’s and India’s progress. You will help realise the vision of prosperous Malaysia and Viksit Bharat,” he said.

In his address, the Prime Minister said India’s relationship with Malaysia is scaling new heights. He also referred to Ibrahim's 2024 New Delhi visit, during which the India-Malaysia ties were elevated to the comprehensive strategic partnership level.

“Today, we walk hand in hand as partners towards progress and prosperity. We celebrate each other’s success just as our own. I was touched by Ibrahim’s good wishes on the historic success of Chandrayaan-3. I agree with you, my dear friend. India’s success is Malaysia’s success…it is Asia’s success. That is why I say the guiding word of our relationship is IMPACT. IMPACT means India Malaysia Partnership for Advancing Collective Transformation,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister further said the Indian companies have always been keen to work with Malaysia and it is a privilege that India played a part in creating Malaysia’s first and Asia’s largest insulin manufacturing facility. He went on to add that over 100 Indian IT companies operate in Malaysia, generating thousands of jobs and announced India's UPI will come to Malaysia soon, as the Malaysia-India Digital Council is paving new pathways for digital collaboration.

The Prime Minister also talked about India's progress in the last few years. "Earlier, India was seen just as a huge market; now it is a hub for investment and trade and is seen as a trusted partner for growth," he said, adding, “Whether it is the UK, the UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Oman, the EU or the USA, countries have trade deals with India. Trust has become India’s strongest currency.”

At the event, the Prime Minister announced that India has decided to extend the OCI card eligibility to Malaysian citizens of Indian origin up to the 6th generation. “We have been supporting the Indian Scholarships Trust Fund. Now, we are also going to give Thiruvalluvar Scholarships for students to study in India. And we look forward to seeing you in the Know India Program,” he said. He also announced that India will soon be opening a new consulate in Malaysia.

The Prime Minister hailed the historic ties and the steadfast progress between India and Malaysia in recent years. "I look forward to discussions with Ibrahim and further enhancing our 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.

This is Modi's third visit to Malaysia since 2015. The ministry of external affairs said the visit seeks to further strengthen the India-Malaysia comprehensive strategic partnership established in 2024. “It reflects India’s strong commitment to strengthening India-Malaysia ties, which is a key pillar of our Act East Policy, Indo-Pacific vision and Vision MAHASAGAR,” the foreign ministry said.