BILATERAL TIES WITH TURKIYE STRONGEST EVER, SAYS MALAYSIAN AMBASSADOR

ANKARA, Feb 14 (Bernama-Anadolu) – Malaysia’s Ambassador to Turkiye Sazali Mustafa Kamal said relations between Malaysia and Turkiye have never been stronger, adding that the two countries play a major role in ensuring international peace and security, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

As his term in Turkiye came to an end, Sazali visited the streets around Ankara Castle with his wife and spoke to Anadolu about bilateral relations and his experiences in the country.

Having served in the Turkish capital for about five and a half years, Sazali said he felt at home in the city from the very beginning and described it as a place rich in history.

Recalling the moment he presented his letter of credence to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Sazali said the president mentioned his name and asked whether he had any connection with Turkiye due to sharing the name Mustafa Kemal.

He said this was very meaningful to him and felt like an advantage to carry the same name as such a distinguished historical figure, noting that it is a common name in Malaysia.

He also said Ankara holds a special place in his life because he arrived in Turkiye single and later got married in the country, which made his time there unforgettable.

The official praised Turkiye’s deep historical heritage and highlighted Turkish cuisine as one of the country’s most valuable cultural elements, noting that it brings together flavours from Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

He said Iskender is his favourite dish and that, despite health limitations, he always tries to eat it in Bursa.

He said he visited many parts of Turkiye, naming Istanbul as his favourite city because of the Bosphorus and the sea.

He added that he frequently visited Cappadocia and enjoyed its landscape, and that visiting Mount Nemrut made him feel as if he were travelling through history.

Sazali said he tried to learn Turkish but found that the language requires significant concentration.

He added that his favourite Turkish word is “arkadaslar” (friends), because whenever he remembers the word, he thinks of the Turkish people and their warmth.

He also spoke about “Visit Malaysia 2026,” inviting Turkish families to explore the country and noting that Malaysia offers a wide range of attractions.

Referring to martial arts, he said he holds a black belt in taekwondo and highlighted Malaysia’s traditional martial art Silat, expressing confidence that Turkish people would appreciate it.

On bilateral ties, Sazali emphasised that relations between Malaysia and Turkiye have long been established diplomatically, with people-to-people ties predating the official establishment of diplomatic relations in 1964.

He said the relationship has seen tremendous development and that, at present, ties are at an excellent level.

He noted that relations were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022 and that high-level visits between the two countries have strengthened cooperation in regional and global matters.

Referring to the Palestinian issue, Sazali said Malaysia and Turkiye consult each other regularly and move in coordination.

He added that by acting together, the two countries play a significant role in promoting regional stability, world security and international peace.

He underlined the importance of people-to-people contacts, noting that around 100,000 Malaysians visited Turkiye in 2025, while about 31,000 Turkish citizens visit Malaysia annually.

The diplomat also pointed out that Malaysia can learn from Turkiye in areas such as defence, development and engineering, while Turkiye can benefit from Malaysia’s experience in the semiconductor industry.

He added that Malaysia supports Turkiye’s efforts to become a dialogue partner of ASEAN and highlighted Turkiye’s experience in diplomacy, defence, international relations and security, saying that Ankara has often been at the forefront in encouraging mediation and negotiation to resolve international conflicts and crises.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU