ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had a productive video call to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations between their countries. The two leaders highlighted the progress in their comprehensive strategic partnership and discussed areas of mutual interest.
During the call, President Erdogan expressed his support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in opening a trade office in Malaysia. This move is seen as a positive step in enhancing economic ties between the two nations.
The leaders also emphasized the importance of defense industry collaboration, with Erdogan expressing a desire to finalize a memorandum of understanding to meet Malaysia’s requirements in this field.
Turkey-Malaysia to Collaborate to Combat Islamophobia
Addressing a matter of common concern, President Erdogan and Prime Minister Ibrahim agreed on the necessity of establishing a strong and unified stance against attacks on the Holy Quran, the Muslim holy book. They highlighted the significance of the decisions taken at the Extraordinary Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
In addition, President Erdogan conveyed his intention to visit Malaysia at the earliest opportunity, responding to the invitation extended by Prime Minister Ibrahim.
Regarding counterterrorism efforts, Erdogan stressed the importance of Malaysia’s inclusion of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) on its list of terrorist organizations. He requested strong support from Prime Minister Ibrahim in this regard. FETO and its leader Fethullah Gulen were accused of orchestrating the failed coup attempt in Türkiye on July 15, 2016.
