Visit to Malaysia marks my first foreign trip in 2026: PM Modi in Kuala Lumpur address

PM Modi arrived in Malaysia on Saturday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Malaysia on Saturday and participated in a community programme in Kuala Lumpur, where he highlighted the strong people-to-people ties between India and Malaysia and thanked the Indian diaspora for its warm reception.

Sharing a message on X, Modi said, "Grateful for the warmth of the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur. Our diaspora continues to serve as a strong bridge between India and Malaysia. Addressing a community programme."

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister spoke about shared cultural bonds and acknowledged the presence of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the event. Modi said, "...The warmth of your greeting reflects the beautiful diversity of our shared culture. First of all, I thank my dear friend Anwar Ibrahim for joining the community celebration. I also thank him for his very kind words on the scale and future potential of India-Malaysia friendship in his speech just now."

He also referred to a gesture extended by the Malaysian Prime Minister upon his arrival. "Not just that, he came to the airport to welcome me and he brought me here in his car. Not only his car but his seat also, this special gesture reflect his love and respect for India and for all of you," Modi said.

PM Modi also said that India’s digital payments platform UPI will soon be introduced in Malaysia.

“India will always embrace you with open arms. That is why we made a historic decision just a few months ago. We extended the OCI Card eligibility to Malaysian citizens of Indian origin upto the sixth generation. We have been supporting the Indian Scholarship Trust Fund. We will also award the Thiruvalluvar Scholarship to students studying in India. We look forward to seeing you in the ‘Know India’ programme,” he said.

The Prime Minister recalled that he had been unable to visit Malaysia last year and had promised to travel soon. "Last year, I could not visit Malaysia for the ASEAN Summit. But I promised my friend that I will come to Malaysia soon. As promised, I am here. This is my first foreign visit in 2026..." he added.

Modi’s participation in the community programme underlined the role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.