PM to arrive in Cambodia tomorrow


Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is due to arrive in Phnom Penh tomorrow morning. – Prime Minister’s Office handout, March 26, 2023.

PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim will make a one-day maiden official visit to Cambodia tomorrow to further enhance ties and strengthen co-operation between both countries, Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said.

This will be Anwar’s seventh official overseas visit since becoming prime minister on November 24, 2022.

Anwar is expected to arrive at Phnom Penh International Airport tomorrow morning and will be received by Cambodia’s Senior Minister of Special Duties for Islamic Affairs Dr Othsman Hassan.

Zambry said the visit is at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

He said Anwar will meet Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace, and then with Hun.

“The meeting will provide Anwar the opportunity to exchange (ideas) as well as discuss important issues and bilateral co-operation with Hun.

“In addition, we can also explore new opportunities to further strengthen the existing relationship between both countries,” he said.

Zambry said a joint press conference will be held after Anwar and Hun’s meeting to announce the outcome of their discussions.

He also said that during the visit, the prime minister will witness the signing of two memorandums of understanding (MOU) between the Malaysian and Cambodian governments about the recruitment, employment and repatriation of Cambodian workers in Malaysia.

The signing of the MOUs will further strengthen co-operation between the two countries in the labour sector, he said.

According to Zambry, Anwar is also scheduled to hold a meeting with the president of the Cambodian senate, Say Chhum, and president of the Cambodian national assembly, Heng Samrin.

In conjunction with Ramadan, Anwar will also attend a breaking of fast ceremony hosted by Hun together with academics and the Muslim community in Cambodia.

“During the buka puasa event, there will also be a ceremony to donate 1,500 copies of the Quran that has been translated to Khmer and English,” he said, adding that the prime minister will return to Malaysia immediately after performing Tarawih prayers at Al-Masjid Al-Serkal in Phnom Penh.

Zambry said the official visit reflects the close bilateral relations between Malaysia and Cambodia that have existed for more than six decades.

“This relationship clearly brings benefits to the people of both countries. It is hoped that it will continue to blossom and contribute to a sustainable economic recovery for both countries in the post-pandemic era,” he said.

Aside from the MOUs, the prime minister is also expected to discuss several other issues such as job scams.

“Malaysia and Cambodia can co-operate to overcome this issue. To date, we have successfully helped 287 Malaysians, who have been victims of job scams in Cambodia,” he said.

During the official visit, Anwar will be accompanied by Zambry, Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.

In 2022, Cambodia was Malaysia’s 58th largest trading partner and the eighth biggest in Asean with a total trade of US$684 million (RM3.03 billion), an increase of 20.8% in comparison with the value recorded in the previous year.

Exports to Cambodia have increased by 15.3% to US$527 million, while imports have increased 43.5% to US$157 million over the past 12 months. – Bernama, March 26, 2023.


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