Kuala lumpur: Securing peace in Myanmar and addressing the refugee crisis are among Malaysia’s priorities, particularly in supporting Bangladesh, which has been burdened with hosting large numbers of displaced persons, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He stressed that immediate humanitarian assistance must be extended to refugees and victims of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, while ensuring that efforts to resolve the crisis in Myanmar remain a priority in regional cooperation.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar commended the Bangladeshi authorities for taking the initiative in multilateral forums in New York, Qatar, and Malaysia. He announced that Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, will coordinate a team with Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand to visit Myanmar in the coming weeks to ensure peace is attained and atrocities against ethnic minorities and the people of Myanmar are amicably resolved.
Anwar made these remarks during a press conference in conjunction with the three-day official visit of the Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, Prof Dr. Muhammad Yunus, to Malaysia. Last week, Mohamad stated he would lead an ASEAN delegation to Myanmar on September 19 to assess the latest situation in the country. The delegation, including his counterparts from Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, aims to evaluate the situation under the new administration following the dissolution of the junta government and the end of the state of emergency.
Meanwhile, Anwar described Yunus as a great friend of Malaysia who has significantly contributed to ensuring peace and security in Bangladesh during the transition period. He also highlighted the strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries in trade, investment, culture, and education. Yunus is well-known in Malaysia for his work in uplifting the underprivileged community through microcredit initiatives and his contributions to education, particularly via the Albukhary International University in Kedah.
The Prime Minister emphasized Malaysia’s commitment to Bangladesh as an important partner, acknowledging the contributions of Bangladeshi workers to the country’s development. He announced that the Home Affairs Minister and the Human Resources Minister have agreed on a multiple-entry visa facility to assist workers in visiting their families while ensuring job security.
Anwar also mentioned that Malaysia prioritizes measures to help stranded Bangladeshi workers, with ongoing cooperation in the energy sector through Petronas, telecommunications through Axiata Group Bhd, and exploring new areas in halal, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) research and semiconductors. Earlier, Yunus was accorded an official welcome at the Perdana Putra Complex.
In 2024, Malaysia-Bangladesh trade rose by 5.1 percent to RM13.35 billion (USD2.92 billion), with Bangladesh being Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner and export destination in South Asia. Key exports include petroleum products, palm oil, and chemicals, while imports comprise textiles, footwear, petroleum products, and manufactured goods.