KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been conferred the Order of the Republic, Turkiye’s highest state honour, in recognition of his role in strengthening bilateral relations between Malaysia and the republic.
The decoration was presented by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara yesterday, in conjunction with Anwar’s three-day official visit to Turkiye, which began on Tuesday, January 6.
Also present at the conferment ceremony were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Bernama reported.
Malaysian Ambassador to Turkiye Sazali Mustafa Kamal said the Order of the Republic is the highest recognition conferred by Turkiye on a foreign leader who has played a significant role in enhancing bilateral ties.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, is visiting Turkiye at Erdogan’s invitation as part of Malaysia’s efforts to further strengthen long-standing relations between the two countries.
Malaysia’s total trade with Turkiye from January to November 2025 stood at RM21.2 billion (USD4.92 billion), underscoring the republic’s position as an important economic partner. In 2024, Turkiye was Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner in West Asia, the largest export destination and the fourth-largest source of imports from the region, with total trade valued at RM24.15 billion (USD5.28 billion).
In a statement, Anwar said he accepted the honour with deep gratitude and humility, not in a personal capacity, but on behalf of all Malaysians.
“The conferment symbolises the close friendship long forged between our two countries, founded on trust, mutual respect and shared aspirations for global peace and prosperity,” he said.
He added that the recognition should serve as a catalyst to further strengthen Malaysia–Turkiye cooperation across strategic sectors for the benefit of both nations.
Separately, Malaysia and Turkiye agreed to elevate bilateral ties through the establishment of a High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) to accelerate trade, investment and economic collaboration amid growing global uncertainties.
In a joint press statement with Erdogan, Anwar said the move reflected strong mutual trust and confidence, with cooperation set to expand beyond traditional trade into areas such as technology, defence, education, research and Islamic finance.
He noted that goodwill alone was no longer sufficient in an increasingly uncertain global environment, stressing the need for concrete policies to enhance trade, investment and collaboration across multiple fields.
Anwar said Malaysia remained committed to building its partnership with Turkiye as a model of meaningful bilateral relations anchored in trust, shared values and practical cooperation. – January 8, 2026