Daijiworld Media Network - Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, Feb 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced that India will soon open a new consulate in Malaysia, a move aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties and deepening engagement with the Indian diaspora.
The announcement was made after PM Modi participated in a grand Indian community reception titled ‘Selamat Datang Modiji’ in Kuala Lumpur, which featured a cultural performance by 800 artistes. The event 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 also showcased an exhibition highlighting the Indian community in Malaysia. He noted that the Indian government’s decision to extend Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card eligibility to Malaysian citizens of Indian origin up to the sixth generation had brought immense happiness among the diaspora. He added that the upcoming Indian consulate would bring the two nations even closer.
The announcement was met with applause and appreciation from members of the Indian community, who gave PM Modi a warm welcome as he arrived at the event along with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the new consulate will strengthen ongoing cooperation between India and Malaysia and expand India’s outreach to the Indian community in the country.
Calling the reception unforgettable, PM Modi said the energy, affection and pride of the Indian diaspora were deeply touching. He praised their contributions to Malaysia’s progress while remaining strongly connected to India’s culture and heritage.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister thanked the community for the colourful welcome and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for his presence and warm remarks. He acknowledged the role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening India-Malaysia relations and reiterated India’s commitment to the welfare of Indian nationals in Malaysia and to enhancing people-to-people ties.
Recalling the history of the Azad Hind Fauj in Malaysia, PM Modi paid tribute to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He described the India-Malaysia partnership as IMPACT — India Malaysia Partnership for Advancing Collective Transformation — and urged the diaspora to contribute to the visions of Viksit Bharat and Malaysia Madani.
Highlighting that Malaysia hosts the second-largest Indian-origin community in the world, PM Modi said the diaspora acts as a living bridge between the two countries. He pointed to shared cultural traditions, cuisine and flavours, drawing parallels between Roti Canai and Malabar Parotta, and noting the familiarity of coconut, spices and Teh Tarik in both nations.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the popularity of Indian films and music in Malaysia and remarked that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is fond of Tamil songs of legendary actor MGR. He underlined India’s rapid progress in recent years across sectors such as economic development, infrastructure, green energy, digital innovation and emerging technologies, noting that India has risen from the 11th to the fourth-largest economy and is poised to become the third-largest soon.
On digital transformation, PM Modi said that India accounts for nearly 50 per cent of global real-time digital payments and announced that UPI-based payment services would soon be available in Malaysia, boosting tourism and economic exchanges.
As a tribute to shared heritage, the Prime Minister 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 was created at the university and added that Thiruvalluvar scholarships would be introduced to promote academic exchanges.
PM Modi noted that the influence of saints like Thiruvalluvar and Swami Vivekananda is visible in Malaysia and compared the Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves to those at Palani. He also highlighted the popularity of Garba in Malaysia and said India deeply values its cultural ties with the Sikh community.
Describing Tamil as India’s gift to the world, the Prime Minister said Tamil literature is eternal, Tamil culture is global, and Tamil people have served humanity through their talents. He added that the Tamil diaspora has been present in Malaysia for centuries and continues to serve society across various fields, inspiring India’s efforts to further strengthen shared cultural heritage through new initiatives.