Malaysia and Maldives Reaffirm Commitment to Ummah Unity
Putrajaya, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and President of the Maldives Dr Mohamed Muizzu have reaffirmed their strong commitment to promoting the unity of the ummah and upholding the core principles of Islam, following a meeting held yesterday at the Perdana Putra Complex.
In a joint statement issued after their discussions, both leaders underscored the need for peaceful resolution of global conflicts, particularly the longstanding Palestinian issue, in full respect of international law and United Nations resolutions.
“Anwar and Muizzu also addressed critical international issues, particularly the ongoing conflicts affecting Muslims across the world, and the dire humanitarian situation in Myanmar following the devastating earthquake,” the statement read, according to Bernama.
Both leaders stressed the importance of achieving a just and lasting solution to regional challenges to ensure peace and stability.
Muizzu, who is undertaking a four-day official visit to Malaysia beginning Sunday, was earlier accorded an official welcoming ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex.
During their meeting, Anwar and Muizzu jointly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, reiterating their shared commitment to reject terrorism and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. They agreed to enhance collaboration through the sharing of information and best practices to address both traditional and non-traditional security threats.
The two leaders also emphasized the importance of fostering closer people-to-people ties, particularly through enhanced cooperation between higher education institutions in both countries. They pledged to create more opportunities for students, including through the relaxation of visa regimes to facilitate the pursuit of higher education.
Both leaders acknowledged the success of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) in strengthening bilateral ties. Muizzu expressed his deep appreciation for Malaysia’s continued assistance in building human capital in the Maldives through the MTCP, which was established in 1980 as part of Malaysia’s South-South Cooperation initiative.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Anwar said Malaysia and the Maldives share common aspirations in upholding international commitments and working toward ending the ongoing genocide in Palestine. He praised Muizzu’s bold and principled decision to bar Israeli passport holders from entering the Maldives, describing it as a courageous stand against injustice.
“Malaysia has never recognised Israel since its founding, primarily because of Israel’s refusal to respect human rights, honour international commitments, and end its genocidal acts in Palestine, particularly in Gaza,” Anwar said. “We share the same sentiments and aspirations, and I have expressed on behalf of the government and the people of Malaysia our deep respect and accolades for President Muizzu’s courage and principled stance.”
Muizzu also acknowledged the over 600 scholarship opportunities extended by Malaysian higher education institutions to Maldivian students and praised Malaysia’s supportive visa arrangements, particularly the Guardian Visa scheme.
He added that both countries are working to expedite and finalise several memoranda of understanding, especially in defence and other strategic sectors. Muizzu lauded Malaysia’s leadership in the halal industry and digital economy, stating that the Maldives is eager to explore greater collaboration in emerging technological fields.
Highlighting his country’s commitment to climate action, Muizzu outlined the Maldives’ targets to generate 33% of its energy from renewable sources by 2028 and to plant five million trees as part of its environmental initiatives.
He further expressed full support for Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN this year, underlining the importance of strengthening bilateral relations through high-level exchanges and deeper cooperation.
