Back on track, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kuala Lumpur to strengthen ties with Malaysia after cancelling a previous trip in October 2025.
• Talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim resulted in MoUs to enhance cooperation.
• Both countries condemned terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, and discussed counter-terrorism measures.
• An MoU on semiconductors was signed, building on cooperation between IIT Madras Global and the Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia.

Detailed Insights:

• India-Malaysia relations experienced some strain in 2025 due to differing views on the Pahalgam terror attacks and mediation offers between India and Pakistan.
• Modi's visit aimed to address these concerns, emphasizing commitment to the relationship despite past disagreements.
• Discussions included cooperation in trade, defence, energy, and digital technologies, while sensitive issues like the Zakir Naik case were avoided in public statements.
• India and Malaysia side-stepped differences on multilateral issues, including the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) review.
• India acknowledged Malaysia's interest in joining BRICS, with Prime Minister Ibrahim to be invited to the BRICS Summit as a partner country.
• The visit is expected to foster closer coordination between India and the ASEAN region, addressing shared geographical interests and global changes.

Key Concepts Involved:

• MoU (Memorandum of Understanding): A non-binding agreement outlining the intentions of parties to take action.
• Cross-border terrorism: Terrorist acts that are planned, directed, or supported across national borders.
• AITIGA (ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement): A trade agreement between ASEAN countries and India to reduce tariffs and promote trade.
• BRICS: An acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, representing leading emerging economies.