EDUCATION will remain one of the central pillars of Malaysia–United Kingdom relations, according to Malaysia’s High Commissioner to the UK and Northern Ireland, Datuk Zakri Jaafar.
Speaking at a dinner hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof at the Malaysian High Commission in London on Friday, Zakri noted the strong and growing academic ties between the two countries.
“Malaysia currently ranks as the eighth highest source of international students pursuing higher education in the UK, with a total of 13,005 students,” he said.
“At the same time, there are more than 50 schools and five UK universities operating in Malaysia.”
Bernama reported the event was attended by some 80 guests including students, Malaysian High Commission staff, and representatives from government-linked companies, was part of Fadillah’s three-day working visit to the UK, following an earlier stop in Türkiye.
Also present were Fadillah’s wife, Datin Seri Ruziah Mohd Tahir; Chief New Energy Officer of Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Mohd Zarihi Mohd Hashim; Sarawak Energy Berhad CEO Datuk Sharbini Suhaili; and delegates from the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA). Earlier in the day, the Deputy Prime Minister performed Friday prayers with the Malaysian Muslim community at Malaysia Hall.
During his visit, Fadillah led the Malaysian delegation to the Summit of the Future of Energy Security at Lancaster House, a two-day event focused on global energy transition and resilience.
Beyond education, Zakri said the Malaysia–UK relationship is also marked by robust defence cooperation, especially through the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), which involve joint exercises, industry collaboration, and technology sharing.
Tourism is another growing sector. “A total of 315,980 visitors from the UK were recorded arriving in Malaysia in 2024, compared to 272,297 in 2023 and 134,667 the year before,” Zakri said, adding that the return of British Airways’ flights to Kuala Lumpur is expected to boost arrivals further in 2025.
He also highlighted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to the UK earlier this year as a reflection of strong bilateral relations, which extend beyond traditional diplomacy to platforms such as the Commonwealth and United Nations.
“These relations are further strengthened through the UK’s participation as an ASEAN dialogue partner, and more recently, its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), of which Malaysia is an existing member,” Zakri said. - April 26, 2025
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