Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met Indian Grand Mufti Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar in Kozhikode on Sunday during his five-day visit to India, with discussions focusing on education, cultural cooperation and the welfare of the Indian community in Malaysia.
Anwar arrived in Keralam after attending the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. He reached the Markaz campus at Karanthur in Kozhikode around 5.40 pm, where he was received by representatives of Markaz and senior members of the institution. The meeting was held at the Markaz Convention Centre.
The talks covered possible educational exchanges between Markaz and Malaysian higher education institutions. The two sides also discussed cooperation in education, culture and academic activities, along with issues concerning the Indian community living and working in Malaysia.
The meeting gave a regional and community dimension to Anwar’s India visit, which has otherwise been dominated by his participation in the BRICS summit and his official engagements in New Delhi.
Anwar was also presented with the Excellence Award instituted by the Sheikh Aboobacker Foundation. The award recognises individuals for contributions to humanitarian service, social reform and education.
Kanthapuram presented Anwar with a handwritten manuscript of Sahih al-Bukhari, the widely known collection of Hadith. The presentation was linked to the international Hadith recitation gatherings organised under the Malaysian government’s initiative over the past three years.
The meeting had attracted attention even before Anwar reached Kozhikode because of his comments about Kanthapuram’s views on women.
Speaking in New Delhi a day before the meeting, Anwar said he did not agree with all of the Kerala scholar’s views. He specifically referred to Kanthapuram’s recent remarks concerning the role and presence of women in public life.
Anwar said Malaysia guarantees equal rights to women and indicated that he would make his position clear if the issue came up during his interaction with the scholar. At the same time, he described Kanthapuram as a traditional Islamic scholar who had made significant contributions to the study and teaching of the Quran, Islamic tradition and the life of Prophet Muhammad.
Anwar also pointed to what he saw as a distinction between Kanthapuram’s controversial remarks and his broader work in education, including institutions serving women. His comments allowed the Malaysian leader to maintain respect for the scholar while making clear that he did not endorse every position attributed to him.
The issue has become a subject of public debate in Kerala in recent days, after Kanthapuram’s remarks on women drew criticism from political leaders and sections of civil society. The discussion has also brought different Muslim organisations together in defence of the senior Sunni scholar, adding to the sensitivity surrounding Anwar’s visit.
Despite the controversy, the meeting itself remained focused on areas of cooperation. Education emerged as an important theme, reflecting the longstanding links between Kerala and Malaysia through migration, trade, higher education and cultural connections.
Keralam has a large community with personal and economic ties to Malaysia. The welfare of Indians in Malaysia was therefore another important subject in the discussions.
Anwar’s visit to Markaz was also not his first interaction with Kanthapuram. He had visited the institution in 2022, when he was Malaysia’s opposition leader and before he became prime minister. His return to the campus as prime minister gives the latest meeting added significance.
The Malaysian prime minister received a formal welcome in Kerala. State representatives, including Agriculture Minister T. Siddique, MP E.T. Mohammed Basheer, MLAs T.P. Ashraf Ali and T.V. Ibrahim, Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha and senior officials, were present at Karipur airport. Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan also welcomed Anwar’s arrival.
Anwar’s Keralam visit came against the backdrop of expanding India-Malaysia relations. During the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Anwar also held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
The discussions between PM Modi and Anwar covered areas including defence, semiconductors, critical minerals, clean energy, infrastructure and talent mobility. Malaysia has shown interest in expanding cooperation with India in several of these emerging sectors.
The Kozhikode meeting therefore brought together two different dimensions of the India-Malaysia relationship. At the government level, both countries are looking at stronger economic, strategic and technology cooperation. At the community level, Keralam’s educational, cultural and diaspora links with Malaysia remain important.
Anwar’s interaction with Kanthapuram also showed how diplomacy can extend beyond formal government meetings. Religious scholars, educational institutions and diaspora communities can play a role in strengthening people-to-people ties between countries.
The Malaysian prime minister’s Keralam visit ended with the focus firmly on education, culture and community links, even as his earlier comments on women’s rights ensured that the meeting remained closely watched.
