PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has arrived in Manama for his official visit to Bahrain.
This marks his first visit to Bahrain upon the invitation of the Crown Prince, Sheikh Salman Hamad al-Khalifa, who is also the Prime Minister of Bahrain.
The official visit to Bahrain will provide the Prime Minister with a platform to highlight Malaysia's foreign policy, particularly its stance on regional and global issues, as well as focus on Malaysia's Chairmanship of ASEAN, according to Malaysia's Ambassador to Bahrain, Shazryll Zahiran, during a press briefing earlier.
Shazryll stated that throughout the official visit, Anwar will hold a courtesy meeting with his counterpart to discuss the progress and development of Malaysia-Bahrain relations, with a focus on strengthening and enhancing cooperation in key sectors of mutual interest. These sectors include trade and investment, defense, food security, Islamic banking, halal industries, connectivity, and tourism, as well as regional and global issues.
In line with Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship, Shazryll also mentioned that Anwar will extend an invitation to the Crown Prince of Bahrain for the second ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the ASEAN-GCC+China Summit, both of which will be held in Malaysia.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet with King Hamad Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, marking a significant honor for Malaysia and reaffirming the strength of bilateral ties between the two nations.
Additionally, Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, will meet with Bahrain’s Finance Minister Shaikh Salman Khalifa Al Khalifa to discuss potential economic cooperation between Malaysia and Bahrain.
According to last year's statistics, trade between Malaysia and Bahrain was valued at RM1.19 billion, with exports amounting to RM251.2 million and imports totaling RM943.3 million. Bahrain was Malaysia's ninth-largest trading partner in the Middle East region last year, while Malaysia was Bahrain’s third-largest trading partner in ASEAN and the 18th-largest globally in 2023.
The special flight carrying him landed at Bahrain International Airport at 12:45 AM local time, where he was welcomed by Bahrain's Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif Rashid Al Zayani, Deputy Governor of Muharraq Brigadier General Jassim Mohammed Al Ghattam, Bahrain's Ambassador to Malaysia Dr. Waleed Khalifa Al Manea, and Malaysia’s Ambassador to Bahrain, Shazryll Zahiran.
Accompanying the Prime Minister were Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr. Zulkifli Hasan, along with senior government officials. He was also greeted with an honour guard at the airport.
The Prime Minister, who also holds the position of Finance Minister, will also meet with his counterpart, Shaikh Salman Khalifa Al Khalifa, to discuss potential economic cooperation between Malaysia and Bahrain.
Additionally, he is set to deliver a speech at the Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference (IIDC) before meeting the Malaysian diaspora in Bahrain. – February 19, 2025
