Addressing a large community gathering in Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscores the cultural, emotional and economic bonds between India and Malaysia, lauds the Indian-origin community for preserving traditions over centuries, and outlines a shared vision for deeper partnership under the IMPACT framework.
TFP Bureau, Kuala Lumpur, February 8, 2026: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Friday addressed an enthusiastic gathering of the Indian community in Kuala Lumpur, describing the Indian diaspora as a vibrant and enduring bridge connecting India and Malaysia through shared culture, values and aspirations. The Prime Minister expressed deep gratitude for the warmth and affection shown by the community, stating that the diversity of greetings and languages reflected the richness of the shared civilisational heritage.
At the outset, the Prime Minister thanked Malaysian Prime Minister Shri Anwar Ibrahim for joining the community celebration and for his generous words on the present scale and future potential of India–Malaysia relations. Shri Modi recalled that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim personally received him at the airport and accompanied him to the event, calling the gesture a reflection of his affection for India and respect for the Indian-origin community.
The Prime Minister congratulated the organisers and performers of the record-setting cultural programme witnessed at the event, where over 800 dancers performed in perfect harmony. He said the performance would be remembered for years as a symbol of unity, discipline and cultural pride.
Recalling his long-standing friendship with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Shri Modi praised his reform-oriented vision, intellectual depth and leadership during Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025. He noted that although he was unable to attend the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia last year, he had promised to visit the country soon and was pleased to fulfil that commitment with his first foreign visit of 2026.
Expressing happiness at being with the community during the festive season, the Prime Minister said he hoped everyone had celebrated Sankranti, Pongal and Thaipusam with joy. He extended advance greetings for the upcoming festivals of Mahashivaratri, Ramzan and Hari Raya, wishing all happiness and good health.
Highlighting Malaysia’s unique place in India’s global diaspora, Shri Modi said the country is home to the second-largest Indian-origin community in the world. He remarked that there is much that binds Indian and Malaysian hearts, from traditions and languages to food and popular culture. Referring to an exhibition he visited earlier with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, he said it beautifully depicted these deep-rooted connections.
The Prime Minister described the diaspora as a “living bridge” between the two nations, noting how cultural elements seamlessly blend, from Roti Canai and Malabar Parotta to coconut- and spice-based cuisines and the familiar taste of Teh Tarik. He said the ease of cultural understanding is strengthened by shared words across Indian languages and Malay, as well as the popularity of Indian cinema and music in Malaysia.
Shri Modi recalled with appreciation the support extended by the Malaysian Indian community during the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, and paid tribute to the sacrifices made by the ancestors of the diaspora in India’s freedom struggle. He noted that many members of the community, despite never having visited India, were among the earliest to join Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army. In honour of this legacy, he said, the Indian Cultural Centre in Malaysia was renamed after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and he saluted the contributions of the Netaji Service Centre and Netaji Welfare Foundation.
Commending the community for preserving its traditions over centuries, the Prime Minister recalled mentioning the Malaysian Indian diaspora in his Mann Ki Baat radio programme, where he shared with 1.4 billion Indians that more than 500 schools in Malaysia teach children in Indian languages. He observed that the influence of great saints such as Thiruvalluvar and Swami Vivekananda is clearly visible in Malaysia, and described the recent Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves as divine and comparable to those at Palani in Tamil Nadu.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the popularity of Garba in Malaysia and acknowledged the Sikh community for carrying forward the teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji through the principles of naam japo, kirat karo and vand chhako. He said the presence of people from all parts of India in Malaysia reflects unity in diversity, which remains India’s greatest strength.
Speaking on Tamil heritage, Shri Modi described Tamil as India’s gift to the world, with its literature, culture and people having served humanity across centuries. He noted with pride that several senior leaders in India, including the Vice President, External Affairs Minister, Finance Minister and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, hail from Tamil Nadu. He also acknowledged the contributions of the Tamil diaspora in Malaysia across various fields and announced that after establishing the Thiruvalluvar Chair at the University of Malaya, India would now set up a Thiruvalluvar Centre to further strengthen shared cultural heritage.
Turning to bilateral relations, the Prime Minister said India–Malaysia ties are scaling new heights. He recalled that during Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to New Delhi in 2024, relations were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He said both countries now walk hand in hand towards progress and prosperity, celebrating each other’s successes as their own. Describing the guiding principle of the partnership as IMPACT—India-Malaysia Partnership for Advancing Collective Transformation—Shri Modi said it defines the speed, scale and benefits of bilateral cooperation.
Highlighting economic cooperation, the Prime Minister said Indian companies have played a significant role in Malaysia’s development, including the establishment of Malaysia’s first and Asia’s largest insulin manufacturing facility. He noted that over 100 Indian IT companies operate in Malaysia, generating thousands of jobs, and announced that India’s UPI digital payment system would soon be launched in Malaysia.
Inviting members of the diaspora and their Malaysian friends to visit India, Shri Modi highlighted the country’s rapid growth in infrastructure, including the doubling of airports, record highway construction and the international acclaim earned by modern trains like Vande Bharat. He emphasised that people-to-people contact remains the cornerstone of India–Malaysia friendship.
Reflecting on India’s transformation over the past decade, the Prime Minister said the country has risen from being the 11th largest economy to one of the fastest-growing major economies, now approaching the top three globally. He highlighted achievements under Make in India, the surge in defence exports, India’s emergence as the world’s third-largest startup hub, leadership in digital public infrastructure, and the expansion of clean and green energy, with solar capacity increasing nearly 40 times in a decade.
Shri Modi said India is now seen not merely as a large market but as a trusted global partner for growth, with trade agreements in place with major economies including the UK, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Oman, the EU and the USA. Trust, he said, has become India’s strongest currency.
Reaffirming India’s commitment to its diaspora, the Prime Minister highlighted the extension of OCI card eligibility to Malaysian citizens of Indian origin up to the sixth generation. He spoke about continued support through the Indian Scholarships Trust Fund, announced Thiruvalluvar Scholarships for students to study in India, and mentioned the Know India Programme. He also announced that a new Indian Consulate would soon be opened in Malaysia to further strengthen bilateral ties.
Concluding his address, Shri Modi said that as 1.4 billion Indians work towards building a developed India by 2047, the Pravasi Bharatiya community remains an invaluable partner in this journey. He said that whether born in Kuala Lumpur or Kolkata, India lives in the hearts of the diaspora, who will continue to contribute actively to the progress of both Malaysia and India, helping realise the shared vision of a prosperous Malaysia and a Viksit Bharat.
