Maldives and Malaysia agreed on a series of new measures to deepen bilateral relations during Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s two-day state visit to the Maldives, including two cooperation agreements, a proposed US$100 million financing facility, plans for a Preferential Trade Agreement and expanded cooperation in defence, Islamic affairs, education, tourism, healthcare and investment.
Anwar arrived in Malé on September 14 at the invitation of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, marking his first visit to the Maldives since becoming Prime Minister in November 2022. President Muizzu personally welcomed him at Velana International Airport, where the visiting Prime Minister was also greeted with a cultural performance by Maldivian schoolchildren.
The visit took place as Maldives and Malaysia marked 58 years of diplomatic relations.
The following morning, Anwar received a full ceremonial welcome at Republic Square, including a 21-gun salute, the national anthems of both countries, an MNDF guard of honour and a cultural performance by students. Anwar and President Muizzu subsequently proceeded to the President’s Office for their official talks.
Two agreements exchanged
The two governments witnessed the exchange of two Memoranda of Understanding covering defence cooperation and Islamic affairs.
The defence MoU provides a framework for cooperation in areas including maritime security, maritime safety, training and defence-industry cooperation.
The Islamic affairs MoU covers areas including Islamic education, da’wah, the halal industry, religious administration, waqf, Hajj and human development.
The agreements were signed in the presence of Anwar and Muizzu at the President’s Office.
The agreements give the relationship a more formal framework for cooperation in two areas of particular relevance to the Maldives and Malaysia.
Malaysia agrees in principle to US$100 million facility
One of the most significant financial outcomes was Malaysia’s agreement in principle to support a US$100 million financing facility requested by the Maldives.
Anwar said the Maldives had raised the matter with Malaysia’s central bank and that Malaysia had agreed in principle to support the facility.
However, the money has not simply been transferred to the Maldives. Bank Negara Malaysia and the Maldives Monetary Authority are expected to work on the mechanism and process needed to finalise the arrangement, with Anwar saying the work should be fast-tracked.
Anwar linked the decision to the trust and friendship between the two countries.
Maldives and Malaysia to pursue Preferential Trade Agreement
The two countries also agreed to begin negotiations towards a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
The proposed agreement is intended to create greater opportunities for trade and investment between the two countries, with Malaysia’s Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Abdul Ghani and his Maldivian counterpart expected to work on the areas and products that could be covered.
The agreement is currently at the negotiation stage and is not yet a completed trade agreement.
Malaysia is already an important trading partner for the Maldives. Malaysian reporting put bilateral trade in 2025 at around RM792 million, making the Maldives Malaysia’s sixth-largest trading partner in South Asia.
Joint Commission proposed for Kuala Lumpur
Anwar also proposed that the Malaysia-Maldives Joint Commission meet in Kuala Lumpur before the end of 2026.
The Malaysian Prime Minister described the commission as important for addressing outstanding matters and ensuring that the commitments made by the two governments continue to move forward.
Anwar said the proposal reflected the two countries’ commitment to strengthening their relationship.
Maldivian students and families
Education and people-to-people relations were also discussed extensively.
Anwar noted that more than 2,000 Maldivian students are currently studying in Malaysia and said Malaysia should reciprocate the confidence placed in its education system.
He also acknowledged bureaucratic difficulties affecting parents who wish to accompany their children studying in Malaysia and said he would raise the matter at Malaysia’s Cabinet.
Healthcare-related issues involving Maldivians were also raised, with Anwar saying that some cases could be addressed under Malaysia’s approach to compassionate healthcare.
Malaysia additionally agreed to include Maldivians in its Graduate Pass Scheme, creating another avenue for Maldivian graduates in Malaysia.
Tourism, digital development and renewable energy
The discussions extended beyond the agreements formally exchanged.
The two governments identified tourism, investment, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, healthcare, education, TVET, human-capital development and the blue economy as areas where cooperation could be expanded.
The Maldivian government also said the two sides agreed to streamline consular and visa arrangements.
PETRONAS and possible oil exploration
Another proposal raised during the visit was for Malaysia’s national oil company PETRONAS to examine the possibility of oil and mineral exploration in the Maldives.
Anwar said he would discuss the proposal with PETRONAS.
He highlighted PETRONAS’ experience in exploration in countries across several regions and said he did not believe it would be too difficult for the company to examine possibilities closer to the Maldives.
He also joked that if PETRONAS could not find oil, its personnel could at least spend a few days in the Maldives.
No oil exploration agreement was signed during the visit. The current outcome is that Anwar will take the proposal to PETRONAS for discussion.
Climate change and Palestine
Climate change was another major subject discussed by the two leaders.
Anwar said Malaysia understood the Maldives’ concerns over climate financing and agreed that developing and vulnerable countries should continue pressing for the implementation of international commitments on climate finance.
The two countries also discussed international issues, including Palestine.
Anwar praised the Maldives’ position on Palestine and said Malaysia and the Maldives shared similar positions on a number of international matters.
Anwar praises Muizzu’s hospitality
While the visit produced several formal agreements, Anwar’s own remarks also showed that he regarded the visit as more than a routine diplomatic engagement.
In his joint press statement, Anwar repeatedly praised President Muizzu’s hospitality, describing it in terms of friendship, trust and brotherly relations.
He said bilateral relations should begin with a sincere appreciation of each country’s needs and strengths, as well as personal respect between leaders.
Anwar also joked about Muizzu’s manner of presenting a series of requests and proposals, saying that although the Maldivian President was “very polite and soft-spoken,” he was also “very strong in his message.”
The Malaysian Prime Minister joked that when Muizzu presented his list of arrangements, “like a good chemical engineer,” he had little choice but to agree.
Anwar’s remarks gave the press conference a notably informal and humorous tone, alongside the formal diplomatic announcements.
He also spoke warmly about the Maldives’ natural beauty and expressed appreciation for the hospitality extended to him during his short stay.
Maldivian music becomes an unexpected highlight
One of the most talked-about aspects of the visit among Maldivians was not a diplomatic announcement, but the music accompanying Anwar’s social-media posts.
According to SunOnline, Anwar’s official Instagram account used Maldivian music throughout his coverage of the visit.
His first post upon arriving in the Maldives featured an orchestral version of the Maldivian national anthem.
A subsequent post showing his meetings with President Muizzu and senior officials at the President’s Office used “Mariyam Malaa,” the popular boduberu song by Ekathi.
Other posts featured classics by legendary Maldivian singer Meyna Hassan, including “Mila Mila Handhuvaru,” “Raivareh Hedheema,” “Fanu Dhunmaari” and “Maasingaa Kandutheray.”
The choices quickly caught the attention of Maldivians online.
SunOnline reported widespread praise on Maldivian social media, with people expressing appreciation that a foreign head of government had chosen well-known Maldivian music to accompany his official coverage of the country.
The music also fitted Anwar’s established personal interest in music.
Anwar has also spoken about music as something that has played an important role in his personal life and in building cultural connections.
Although he did not perform in the Maldives, the decision to use Maldivian songs in his own posts created a cultural connection that went beyond the formal diplomatic programme.
A visit marked by both diplomacy and warmth
Anwar departed the Maldives on September 15 after completing the two-day programme, with Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam seeing him off at Velana International Airport.
The visit resulted in two formal MoUs, an agreement in principle on the US$100 million financing facility, plans to begin PTA negotiations, a proposed Joint Commission meeting in Kuala Lumpur before the end of the year, inclusion of Maldivians in Malaysia’s Graduate Pass Scheme and commitments to address visa, healthcare and education-related issues.
The two sides also opened discussions on possible PETRONAS involvement in oil and mineral exploration and agreed to expand cooperation in tourism, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, healthcare, education, Islamic affairs and other fields.
But the visit also carried a notably personal character.
Anwar repeatedly spoke of friendship, trust and brotherly relations with the Maldives and President Muizzu, while his social-media posts adopted Maldivian music as their soundtrack.
For many Maldivians, the appearance of familiar songs from the national anthem and boduberu to Meyna Hassan’s classics became an unexpected and memorable part of the Prime Minister’s first official visit to the country.
With the Joint Commission expected to meet in Kuala Lumpur before the end of 2026, attention will now turn to how the agreements, financing facility, trade negotiations and other proposals announced during Anwar’s visit are implemented.
