Outgoing Malaysian envoy: Ties with Türkiye strongest in history

Malaysia's outgoing Ambassador to Ankara, Sazali Bin Mustafa Kemal, declared that relations between Kuala Lumpur and Ankara have reached their strongest point in history as he concluded a five-and-a-half-year diplomatic mission in Türkiye. Speaking to Anadolu during a farewell walk around Ankara Castle, the envoy reflected on deep historical connections and robust contemporary cooperation.

Personal Bonds, Shared History

Sazali recalled presenting his credentials to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who immediately noted the ambassador's shared name with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk—a meaningful moment for the Malaysian diplomat. He arrived in Ankara single and later married in Türkiye, making the country unforgettable. Among Turkish cuisine, he named İskender as his favorite dish, insisting on eating it in Bursa despite health limitations, and listed İstanbul, Cappadocia, and Mount Nemrut as treasured destinations.

Strategic Partnership in Action

On bilateral ties, Sazali emphasized that relations, formalized in 1964, have seen "tremendous development" and were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022. He noted close consultation between the two countries on the Palestinian issue and their coordinated role in promoting regional stability and international peace. Malaysia supports Ankara's bid to become an ASEAN dialogue partner, while recognizing Türkiye's diplomatic and mediation experience as a model.

Sectoral Synergies and People-to-People Links

The ambassador identified complementary strengths: Malaysia can learn from Türkiye's defense, development, and engineering sectors, while Ankara can benefit from Kuala Lumpur's semiconductor industry expertise. People-to-people contacts are thriving, with approximately 100,000 Malaysians visiting Türkiye in 2025 and 31,000 Turkish citizens traveling annually to Malaysia. He extended a warm invitation for Turkish families to explore Malaysia during "Visit Malaysia 2026."