Kuala Lumpur : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced that India will soon open an Indian Consulate in Malaysia, a move aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing outreach to the Indian diaspora in the country.
The announcement was made after Prime Minister Modi participated in an Indian community reception titled ‘Selamat Datang Modiji’ in Kuala Lumpur. The event featured a special cultural programme by nearly 800 artistes, which entered the Malaysian Book of Records as the largest performance of Indian traditional dances in the country.
In a post on X later in the evening, the Prime Minister said the community programme included an exhibition highlighting the history and contributions of the Indian community in Malaysia. He noted that the Government of India’s decision to extend Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card eligibility to Malaysian citizens of Indian origin up to the sixth generation had brought immense joy to the diaspora. He added that the opening of an Indian Consulate in Malaysia would bring the two nations even closer.
The announcement was warmly welcomed by members of the Indian community, who gave Prime Minister Modi a rousing reception as he arrived at the event alongside Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the proposed Consulate will further strengthen ongoing cooperation between India and Malaysia and expand India’s engagement with the Indian community living in the country.
Describing the reception as unforgettable, Prime Minister Modi said the energy, affection and pride of the Indian diaspora were deeply touching. He praised the community for its significant contributions to Malaysia’s development while remaining strongly connected to India’s culture and heritage.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister thanked the community for the vibrant welcome and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for his presence and warm remarks. He reiterated India’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of Indian nationals in Malaysia and to strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Recalling the historical role of the Azad Hind Fauj, or Indian National Army, in Malaysia, Prime Minister Modi paid tribute to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Referring to the growing partnership between the two countries, he described it as IMPACT — India-Malaysia Partnership for Advancing Collective Transformation — and called upon the community to contribute to the shared vision of Viksit Bharat and Malaysia Madani.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted that Malaysia hosts the second-largest Indian-origin community in the world and said the diaspora serves as a living bridge between the two nations. He noted that cultural connections between India and Malaysia are reflected in shared traditions and cuisines, drawing parallels between Roti Canai and Malabar Parotta, as well as common use of coconut, spices and beverages like Teh Tarik.
He also observed that people of both countries understand each other well, partly due to linguistic similarities between Indian languages and Malay, and noted the popularity of Indian films and music in Malaysia. The Prime Minister mentioned that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is fond of Tamil songs, particularly those of legendary actor and leader MGR.
Highlighting India’s rapid progress in recent years, Prime Minister Modi spoke about transformative developments in economic growth, infrastructure, green energy, digital innovation and emerging technologies. He said India had risen from being the world’s 11th largest economy to the fourth largest within a decade and was on course to become the third largest soon.
Referring to India’s fintech revolution, he noted that nearly 50 per cent of all global real-time digital payments now take place in India. He also announced that the UPI-based digital payment system would soon be made available in Malaysia, which is expected to boost tourism and economic exchanges between the two countries.
As a tribute to shared cultural heritage, Prime Minister Modi announced the establishment of a dedicated Thiruvalluvar Centre at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. He recalled that following his announcement in August 2024, a Thiruvalluvar Chair of Indian Studies had already been set up at the university. He also announced Thiruvalluvar scholarships to promote academic exchanges between India and Malaysia.
The Prime Minister noted that the influence of saints such as Thiruvalluvar and Swami Vivekananda is visible in Malaysia, citing the grand Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves, which he compared to those at Palani in India. He also highlighted the popularity of Garba in Malaysia and reaffirmed India’s deep cultural bonds with the Sikh community, which continues to spread the teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Calling Tamil “India’s gift to the world,” Prime Minister Modi said Tamil literature is eternal, Tamil culture is global, and Tamil people have contributed immensely to humanity. He added that the Tamil diaspora has been present in Malaysia for centuries and continues to serve society in diverse fields. Inspired by this rich history, he said, India has taken steps to further strengthen shared heritage through academic and cultural institutions in Malaysia.
