PRESIDENT of the Maldives Dr Mohamed Muizzu departed Malaysia on Wednesday morning, concluding a four-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across a broad range of sectors.
Muizzu, who took office in November 2023, was visiting Malaysia at the invitation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. This was his first official visit to the country in his capacity as president.
Bernama cited that during his stay, Muizzu oversaw the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and two Exchange of Notes (EoNs) covering tourism, health, and sports – agreements intended to deepen collaboration and mutual development between the two nations.
At a joint press conference with Prime Minister Anwar, the two leaders announced new tourism initiatives linked to the upcoming "Visit Malaysia 2026" campaign. This includes efforts to boost tourist flows between the countries, particularly through Muslim-Friendly and Halal Tourism offerings.
Both leaders reiterated their shared commitment to the unity of the Ummah (Muslim community) and reaffirmed their support for peaceful resolutions to global conflicts.
“We agreed that international disputes, including the protracted Palestinian issue, must be resolved through peaceful means with full respect for international law and relevant United Nations resolutions,” said Muizzu.
A key highlight of the visit was the conferral of an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Islamic Leadership and MADANI Development to Muizzu by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
The honour, recognising his contributions to leadership and national progress, was presented by the university’s Constitutional Head, Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, during a special convocation ceremony at IIUM’s Gombak campus.
The visit is expected to pave the way for enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, Islamic finance, education, youth engagement, and sporting exchanges.
Economic ties between the two nations continue to grow. Maldives is currently Malaysia’s sixth-largest trading partner in South Asia, with bilateral trade reaching RM862.7 million (US$189 million) in 2024, up from RM827.3 million (US$180.9 million) the previous year.
His departure from Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 8.00am was marked by a formal send-off ceremony at the Bunga Raya Complex, where a guard of honour was mounted by the First Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment (Ceremonial).
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, serving as Minister-in-attendance, was present to bid farewell to the Maldivian delegation. - April 30, 2025
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