India-Malaysia Relations: Overview

India and Malaysia have age-old political and cultural ties which predate the advent of Christianity, marked by mercantile links, which brought in its wake the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism to the Malay Peninsula. India established formal diplomatic relations with Malaysia in 1957. The year 2007-08, marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Malaysia.

Bilateral relations have been close and friendly with frequent high level visits between the two countries. Indian Presidents have visited Malaysia many times – Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1958, Mr. V.V. Giri in 1973, Mr. Fakhruddin Ali in 1977 and Vice Presidents, Dr. Zakir Hussain in 1966 and Mr. Krishan Kant in 1997 (G-15). In recent times, Prime Minister V.P. Singh visited Malaysia in 1990, Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1995, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001 and in 2003 and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in December 2005 to attend the 4th India-ASEAN Summit and first East Asia Summit. On the Malaysian side, the King of Malaysia (Agong V) visited India in 1974. Prime Minister Mahathir visited India in 1983, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1996 and in October 2002. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi visited India in December 2004.

Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib bin Tun Razak made a landmark visit to India from 19 to 23 January 2010 covering New Delhi and Chennai. The visit opened a new chapter to forge strategic relationship between the two countries.  The Prime Ministers of India and Malaysia observed that a long term and strategic partnership between Malaysia and India could be developed based on historical, cultural and social links, pluralism, open society, shared commitment to democracy and development, and a high degree of commonality of political and economic interests.  In this context, it was decided to develop a framework for strategic cooperation and partnership between the two countries. It was agreed to conclude the Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations as soon as possible.

The cooperation between the Parliaments of India and Malaysia has been long-standing. There have been frequent visits by the parliamentarians from India to Malaysia and Malaysia to India. In recent times, the Hon’ble Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Mr. K. Rahman Khan led a delegation of five members to Malaysia from 19th to 24th September, 2004. Hon’ble Speaker of Lok Sabha, Mr. Somnath Chatterjee visited Kuala Lumpur in April 2005.  He also participated with 54-member delegation at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) held in Kuala Lumpur from 1-9 August 2008. The Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives of Malaysia led a 10-member delegation to India from 3rd to 8th November, 2004. This was followed by the visit of the Speaker of House of Representatives Tan Sri Dato’ Ramli Ngah Talib from 25thJuly 2005 with a 9-member delegation. In 2007, he had also led a 32-member Parliamentary delegation to the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, New Delhi.  

India and Malaysia have recognized the legitimate and long-term interests of both countries in the peace and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, and the importance of developing an open and inclusive regional economic architecture that is based on the principles of mutual benefit and shared opportunities.  Prime Ministers of India and Malaysia have reaffirmed their support for East Asia Summit as a forum for dialogue on broad strategic, political and economic issues of common interest and concern in promoting peace, stability and economic prosperity in East Asia. They have also welcomed further work on Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia (CEPEA).

India and Malaysia will be pursuing all round and comprehensive development of relations proceeding from a strategic perspective and with particular focus on strengthening economic ties. India and Malaysia are considering to set up a CEOs forum.  

During the recent visit of Prime Minister Mohd Najib to India, both countries have agreed to cooperate at the United Nations for early realization of comprehensive United Nations reform, including the Security Council through expansion of permanent and non-permanent categories reflecting the contemporary realities. India and Malaysia have also agreed to coordinate their positions on emerging global issues such as climate change, food security, energy security and pandemic diseases in view of convergence of views of the two countries on these issues.