Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim met with the Grand Mufti of India, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, at Markazu Saquafathi Sunniya, also known as Jamia Markaz, in Calicut. This meeting followed his participation in the 18th BRICS Summit held in New Delhi.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the one-hour discussion between Anwar and Sheikh Abubakr focused on community development, educational empowerment, and enhancing interfaith understanding and harmony. The Prime Minister arrived at 5.50 pm local time, accompanied by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. They were welcomed by Jamia Markaz Working General Secretary Dr Muhammad Abdul Hakkim Kandi, Director C.P. Ubaidullah Saquafi, and Rector Dr Roshan Nurani.

During his five-day working visit to India, Anwar also participated in the Maghrib prayer and attended a Gathering of Honour for the Malaysian Prime Minister, followed by a religious knowledge session at the Markaz, a leading Islamic institution in India.

Sheikh Abubakr, the 10th Grand Mufti of India, hails from Keralam and is educated within the region's Sunni-Sufi scholarly tradition. He is recognized for his religious scholarship and his commitment to addressing societal challenges, including poverty, lack of educational access, orphanhood, unemployment, and social exclusion.

Earlier, Anwar and the Malaysian delegation arrived at Calicut International Airport from New Delhi at 4.56 pm local time (7.26 pm Malaysian time).