JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE

BY

PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN

AND

PRIME MINISTER ANWAR IBRAHIM

 

7 JANUARY 2026 (WEDNESDAY) | 4.30 PM

ANTARA, TURKIYE

 

  

My dear brother, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. You have been more than just a president to me, but also a dear friend. You have shown so much empathy, sympathies all my years, during the years of tribulations and trials.

And therefore this visit, although I represent the Malaysian government, may I also express my profound gratitude and expressions of love and affection of Malaysians. I have seen you as a pedestal, voice of conscience, shown great leadership and courage not only to your great country, the Republic of Türkiye, but also to the world at large and particularly the Muslim world.

 

And of course, to have a meaningful sort of a bilateral relations, we have to cement it through economic collaboration. And therefore we realise that bias platitudes, friendship is inadequate in this world full of uncertainties which actually requires new policies, particularly to enhance trade, investments, and collaboration in all fields.

 

So thank you for agreeing to enhance our cooperation into a high level strategic cooperation council and on behalf of Malaysia, I must state that this is rare. It’s not many countries that we have these sort of collaboration. It’s only through trust and affection and believe in your capability and strength and the capacity of the Turkish people, industry, science, technology be able to propel and showcase to the world of your own ability.

 

And that’s why I think we will continue to enhance trade and bilateral trade investments. I mean the aim of 10 billion dollar is not ambitious at all. I mean, you have a great economy and we of course, relatively smaller but then growing in a very fast pace as you know, we have now become the main attraction for semiconductors, AI, data centres and new technology, new areas such as rare earth, etc.

 

And I think this sort of collaboration will be more meaningful not only in terms of traditional level of trade, but also new disciplines which will be cemented through educational research, collaboration between countries.

That is why the mechanisms must be put in place. I admire your tenacity and your commitment by ensuring that these discussions is followed through by the Foreign Ministers and relevant ministers. You made it very clear, abundantly clear, that we mean business. We have to act fast. No amount of normal bureaucratic arrangements can work in this very competitive and uncertain world.

 

And I’m with you, I stand guided and will certainly do whatever is necessary to ensure that Malaysia and Türkiye become the showcase of strong, meaningful bilateral relations that covers number of issues.

 

Of course, we have benefited immensely from our procurement through government-to-government arrangements of your defence industry, production, naval, aerospace, which, to me, is a great advantage because we are also introducing a new method of collaboration through principles of good governance and transparency.

 

Now, I would, of course, extend it now to Halal industry and Islamic finance, which is a potential for both of these countries, both of our countries, to explore and advance.

 

Finally, on international relations, I can’t say more because you are, of course, the leading figure and authority in this area and known throughout the world, and we was not only admire tenacity, but certainly supportive of your endeavours and to retry and resolve some of the more complex issues in this region.

 

And you mentioned specifically the issue of Palestine and Gaza, and how you have seen, observed, the total abandonment of moral principles, total disregard for humanity and justice by allowing or continuing this Israeli transgression, oppression, colonization, and atrocities inflicted on innocent lives in Gaza.

 

We will certainly do our best to support your venture and I’ve seen your initiative, which is, I think, unrivalled in terms of your initiative to support and help those being oppressed and depend, have to depend on the support of honest, reliable friends like President Erdogan.

 

And similarly, in some of the issues affecting the world, we need a moral voice, we need a voice of conscience, we need leadership. The world of politics is facing a deficit in terms of moral and ethical value. And please continue to do your best. And we are here representing our country, Malaysia, not only the government, but the people who show so much affection, love and support for what you have been doing and we will continue.

 

Thank you, Teşekkürler.