PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has dismissed speculation that Tamil Nadu authorities ignored a request for a bilateral meeting with Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, saying the meeting remains on the table in either Putrajaya or Chennai.
Anwar said his planned working visit to Chennai, which was scheduled after his attendance at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, was cancelled because of scheduling constraints rather than any diplomatic friction.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Thanthi TV, he said Vijay’s office had informed Malaysia that the chief minister had prior commitments while Anwar faced a tight schedule between New Delhi, Kerala and the Maldives.
"It is not true that Chennai did not respond," Anwar said. "From the beginning, the Chief Minister’s office informed us that they were trying to coordinate his schedule, as he had prior commitments and I had a very tight timeframe between New Delhi, Kerala, and the Maldives."
"Ultimately, I informed him that I would proceed directly to Kerala and the Maldives, as I could not extend my stay," he added, stressing that bilateral ties between Malaysia and Tamil Nadu remained strong.
Anwar, who was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate the actor-turned-politician on his appointment as chief minister, also praised Vijay’s early momentum and appeal among younger voters, describing him as a "fresh voice for rational thought, principles, and good governance."
Recalling their previous interactions, Anwar said he had advised Vijay on the challenges of exercising political power and the gap that can arise between political intentions and the realities of governing.
"When I spoke with him, I reminded him that the primary challenge in power is maintaining the wisdom to navigate real-world complexities, which often differ from initial intentions," Anwar said.
He added that he had given Vijay a copy of his book following an in-depth discussion on poverty alleviation and anti-corruption reform.
Anwar also highlighted Tamil Nadu’s cultural significance, citing the moral clarity of the classical Tamil text Tirukkural and the potential of regional cinema to strengthen diplomatic and people-to-people ties.
For Malaysia, which has a significant Tamil diaspora, Anwar said Vijay’s popularity offered an opportunity to deepen cultural and people-to-people links between Malaysia and Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, Anwar is scheduled to begin a two-day official visit to the Maldives today at the invitation of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
The Foreign Ministry said Anwar would be accorded an official welcome before holding bilateral talks with Muizzu to review existing cooperation and discuss initiatives to strengthen Malaysia-Maldives ties.
The talks will focus on trade and investment, education, healthcare services, digital integration, capacity-building, tourism and sustainable development, while the two leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The two leaders will witness the exchange of two memoranda of understanding on defence cooperation and Islamic affairs, followed by a state banquet hosted by Muizzu for Anwar.
Bilateral trade between Malaysia and the Maldives remained strong at RM762.78 million (US$185.5 million) in 2025, with Malaysia recording a trade surplus of RM751.67 million (US$182.8 million), according to the Foreign Ministry.
The Maldives is Malaysia’s sixth-largest trading partner in South Asia and an important destination for Malaysian exports.
The ministry said Anwar’s visit was expected to further strengthen bilateral ties and promote long-term growth through mutually beneficial cooperation, building on diplomatic relations established in 1968. - September 14, 2026
