VERBATIM JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM
PRIME MINISTER
DURING
OFFICIAL VISIT OF
HIS EXCELLENCY RECEP TAYYIP ERDOĞAN, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKIYE
11 FEBRUARY 2025
———————————————————————————–
Assalammualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
- Brother Excellency President Reccep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
- It is a rare honor that we can welcome leader of the Muslim world and spokesperson for justice, human rights and inconsistent in his call for peace and just resolution, not only in Gaza but throughout the world.
- We are fortunate to have him as our guest. The first visit to South East Asia. And in order to honor Sultan Nazrin of Perak has agreed to confer an honorary doctorate, The University Malaya, which is of course to me and many my colleagues is outstanding because we are also alma maters and graduate from that university.
- We have agreed to enhance our bilateral relations, high level Strategic Cooperation Council and as we have seen from these numbers of agreements and MoU’s between us, this is rare. In our relations with most countries, I think today we have seen maximum sort of a collaboration, which means that our ministers, our bureaucrats, business and companies have taken our commitment very seriously to execute the decisions that we have made. And I’m also thankful to the various ministries and departments. They have strongly supported this endeavor.
- Of course, there’s a long way to go. President Reccep Tayyip Erdoğan have suggested that we should enhance trade investments beyond that figure of five to ten billion dollars, which is of course, very ambitious but I believe my colleagues and the commitment you have shown will be able to facilitate.
- There’s no reason why developing economies, emerging economies, like Malaysia and Turkiye cannot increase this intra trade. We have therefore need to work in various fields, semiconductor, agri-commodities, electrical and electronics, food and beverage and of course defence, which we must and the Defence Minister have shown the need to enhance collaboration to make it a part of the ecosystem and exchange of technology.
- We have been extremely fortunate because your government, Mr. President, has given that trust and confidence to our airport authority, MAHB’s Investment, to continue the collaboration with Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport. And we will certainly work hand in hand as agreed with the local authorities, local construction companies and management because we have shown the spectacular success in both airline and airport management, to spectacular not only in Turkiye, but also seen to be one shining example in Europe and in the world.
- I’ve always related my colleagues to seek that example when I first begin to follow Turkish development and know you personally, the Turkish Airlines was probably considered the weakest and the worst in Europe. Now under your stewardship, I don’t know what you did, but you were able to transform that to be the leading airline and the airport becomes one of the largest, the most efficient and have secured so many visitors. Just major transformation of less than 10 years.
- So, we will have to learn and share this. But beyond that, of course, in the energy with Petronas and related companies, Halal, health and digital and disaster management as you have seen will continue.
- And finally, on international relations, I have shared with President his concerns about Rohingya and the development in Myanmar. We pray, insya-Allah our initiative with various colleagues around ASEAN will be able to secure lasting peace, security and justice in Myanmar and but more pressings of course that the construction of Gaza and Palestine. Türkiye has showed the leadership and as we know, they’ve sent at least 100 ships of equipment and support for humanitarian assistance, which is spectacular, which is not done by any other country as I know.
- And we will, of course, continue to do our bit and using the facilities mainly in Türkiye other than Qatar and Egypt for now. But as I mentioned to the President, we will of course support the Japanese initiative to set up a fund for the reconstruction of Gaza. They are chairing. They have asked us to co-chair what is called East Asia Reconstruction Plan for Gaza and the Palestine.
- So thank you again, Teşekkür ederim, to my dear President, this visit has been extremely meaningful and reaching. And for us, as I’ve said yesterday, you’ve been a dear friend to the family and I think many Malaysians know you and have been observing your movements, your story and taking your statements very seriously, firm, resolute, strong and clearly expression from your strong desire for peace and justice in the world.
So again, thank you.
Q&A SESSION
For Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim:
- Given Malaysia’s current role as ASEAN Chair, how do you envision Türkiye’s role in strengthening its ties with ASEAN nations and contributing in cooperation of critical issues such as the reconstruction of Gaza?
ANSWER: ASEAN have taken a position to support urgent this ceasefire in Gaza and in the process we call reconstruction, we are committed to ensure that adequate support is given. The Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohammad Bin Haji Hassan last month had an engagement with all the foreign ministers where they reiterated that position.
I’ll continue engagement with all the leaders so that we can give the adequate support to the Japan Initiative Co-Chair with Malaysia for an immediate reconstruction of Gaza. Thank you.
For Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim:
- His Excellency, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, what is your view on Türkiye-Asean relations during Malaysia’s Asean Chairmanship?
Answer: Position that we take is of course to enhance collaboration of course bilaterally with Turkiye. But as alerted alluded to in earlier discussion, we have dialogue partners ASEAN other than countries in Asia and also Canada, EU. And therefore, there has been a call for the agency to expand this. And I’ve consulted and discussed this. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia to ensure that we bring it up to the heads of government of ASEAN to ensure that there is adequate participation to be treated fairly. As we have treated some other countries, including EU and Canada, New Zealand and Australia, for example, other than India, China, Japan and Korea to expand this at least as dialogue partners, Turkiye as dialogue partner of ASEAN. And this will be given a priority in our discussions.
On the issue of Gaza, Palestine, because I have said, and we will continue, but we are not working in a vacuum. You see this so-called ceasefire, but then you can continue to observe the intransigence and aggression of Israel. I mean, this is to me, as I’ve said, this is a colonization, a project of colonization. I mean, how much negotiations can you have when the colonizer has not withdrawn? There’s one principle.
And secondly, of course, this is also an issue of politics, of dispossession, when you rob people’s land, people’s houses, people’s property. And therefore, there are two issues here we have to resolve, one of course, immediate humanitarian assistance, but also a long term just makeable resolution to the problem.
Thank you.
Similar Posts:
- PM ANWAR MEETS BILAL ERDOGAN
- MALAYSIA-AUSTRALIA COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING BILATERAL TIES – PM
- PM ANWAR EXPRESSES M’SIAN SOLIDARITY TO HELP TURKIYE FACE DIFFICULT TIMES
- MALAYSIA, PHILIPPINES TO EXPLORE FURTHER COOPERATION IN VARIOUS SECTORS – PM ANWAR
- PM ANWAR LEAVES FOR TURKIYE TO PROVIDE MORAL SUPPORT