VERBATIM TEXT

JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE BETWEEN

MALAYSIA AND AUSTRALIA

BY THE

HONOURABLE DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

28^th OCTOBER 2025

 

1. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and ministers and colleagues, thank you very much. I said this earlier that Prime Minister Albanese has been a committed friend, has been very supportive of our ventures, and my meetings with him have been very fruitful, very candid, very open. Both of us have really committed to enhance bilateral relations in terms of serious trade, investment, and ventures.

 

2. This working, the decision by Monash University to operate from TRX, a very prestigious area is something very impressive. It signifies clear commitment on the part of Australia to take Malaysia very seriously. And now with the bank and the port facility, I commend him for this commitment and his support.

 

3. He promised to come again early next year when both of us will visit the university. And as a good politician, he honours his promise. I have no doubt about that. That’s why he won comfortably in the last elections — convincingly.

 

4. There are issues that we’ll have to — The Director General, of the Department of Islamic Development and Department of Agriculture and Forestry is here on the halal operations, and we do import quite a bit. So, I think we should facilitate that process.

 

5. Agriculture, you’ve been extremely successful. No issue about that. And we will strongly depend on you to share your expertise and get our team to go and work on the possibility of improving not only in terms of production but also irrigation and the related subjects which the Ministry of Agriculture is looking at it very seriously.

 

6. You mentioned education, energy, the Deputy Prime Minister has been discussing with his counterpart in Australia to again work on new areas. Of course, very successful venture Lynas. We had some issues in the beginning, but now we have decided to proceed, and it is one of the major investments of Lynas into Malaysia.

 

7. And when I met them, I insisted that they proceed with the research facilities, centre of excellence, and training of our personnel, young, qualified engineers here, and they are doing that very seriously. I need the support of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on this.
8. The rest will cover the other issues: water management and the rest, youth and sports. Most students are going to Australia partly because you’ve had that track record. Some of your universities, including Monash of course, is outstanding. I’ve been there, not to study, but to give lectures, very little honorary now. I’m not complaining. I’m complaining in my previous position, but they gave me a great opportunity for the exchanges, research, and I’m grateful for that.

 

9. We discussed this on transnational crime, cybersecurity, which I think we need to work on it, and the various Ministers present. And also, we will probably, I will alert my Cabinet on Friday. No, no, Friday, there’s no Cabinet Meeting, I’m sorry. I’m leaving on Thursday. Ouh, what a relief again (said jokingly). No, relief to my members. I’m keen to attend Cabinet meetings.

 

10. Now I’m also thankful that you have taken a strong position on cessation of hostilities in Gaza. Here, people are very passionate, and I’ve been to Australia, people also very, very strong in that.

 

11. I’ve also had intimate discussions with President Donald Trump on this to make sure that this first phase is effective and then proceed on the more comprehensive solution to the conflict, including two state solution, because that’s to me critical. Because in these days and age, you talk about democratic transition, you talk about globalisation, multilateralism, and you condone these killings is just totally unacceptable and hypocritical.

 

12. So, I do express my appreciation, I mean, to Penny Wong earlier and now to you, that you have taken that position at least to stop these hostilities and stop the killings and get humanitarian assistance in and work towards a more comprehensive solution.

 

13. So, thank you again, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, for being here and more important, as a friend, as a true friend, who have committed to come again early next year.

 

Thank you.

 

Q&A SESSION

Question 1: Kristina – New Strait Times

Dato seri, with regards to the bilateral meeting today, how do both Malaysia and Australia plan to ensure that moving forward the strategic partnership between both countries are strong, especially in areas that will define the next phase of cooperation between our two countries? We’ve seen MoU exchange today in several sectors, particularly the education right? But, how do both governments plan to further expand these collaborations to benefit our future generations? Thank you.

 

Answer 1:

Normally the process we have adopted is that once this is agreed, then the following cabinet meeting will go through, then the various ministers or departments will be assigned to then follow through again and then given a month or two months they have to submit the report. So, that to ensure effective and efficient execution of the decision.

 

Question 2: 

Could you please expand on what you meant by that and in practical terms, what countries should be doing and Prime Minister Anwar, you talk about wanting to be friends with everyone here in the region. A Chinese military jet released flares dangerously close to an Australian surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea. Do friends fire flares?

 

Answer 2:

Now, once we establish the facts, we will raise engagement does not mean condoning whatever excesses and the Chinese know that in my private exchanges with President Donald Trump, I know we are represented very small country and relatively small economy, but still we represent the nation and we have the right to express of course, we have the, we need the wisdom not to be seen to be unnecessarily combative but we should bring it up once it is established and maybe seriously if it is established.

 

I would do my part because I think it is important for all of us to express, whether publicly or privately or whatever form our concern that this region must remain free and the policy of centrality does not mean that we don’t say anything centrality means we do express I mean, we have centrality, but we do engage with Myanmar with the issues on Gaza or Russia, Ukraine. All right, thank you.