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PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on Malaysian students in Russia to remain grounded in national identity while striving for academic and professional excellence abroad, saying they bear the responsibility of representing Malaysia’s ideals and aspirations.
Upon his arrival in Moscow, Anwar, accompanied by members of his Cabinet, headed straight to the capital city for a dialogue session with Malaysian students currently studying in Russia.
“I shared some of the current geopolitical challenges, including the United States’ implementation of retaliatory tariffs,” he said on his official Facebook page today.
“Despite global uncertainty, I reiterated my belief that Malaysia can continue to stand strong on the foundation of a sound economy and a united people – across leadership, civil service, communities and the private sector.”
He stressed that a nation’s strength lies not just in numbers but in good governance and the determination to end a culture of corruption.
“We do not want Malaysia to be remembered for racial or religious division, or for corruption. Leaders must avoid abuse of power and the hoarding of wealth for personal or familial gain. Instead, they must remain humble, listen to the people, and craft policies that elevate the dignity and standing of the nation.”
Anwar emphasised the importance of skilled human capital to support Malaysia’s ambitions, especially with significant investments being made by global tech giants such as Infineon, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA and ARM.
“These investments will only yield results if we succeed in producing sufficient skilled talent. The knowledge you gain overseas must be translated into national competitiveness.”
The Prime Minister also listened to concerns raised by the students, from employment prospects upon returning home to the logistical challenges of voting from abroad.
“I assured them of the MADANI Government’s commitment to expanding access to high-value employment and implementing online voting systems to ensure no citizen’s right is denied due to technical limitations.”
As the session concluded, Anwar offered a message of encouragement: “Continue reaching for the skies by acquiring knowledge and venturing into emerging fields that Malaysia needs. But in every step forward, remain rooted – hold fast to your identity and patriotic spirit, which form the core of our strength as Malaysians.”
The Prime Minister arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for a four-day official visit, receiving a Guard of Honour upon arrival at Vnukovo-2 Airport at 6.26pm local time (11.26pm Malaysian time).
The official welcome ceremony marks the first of its kind accorded to a Malaysian prime minister in nearly two decades, with the last similar reception given to the fifth prime minister, the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, during his official visit to Russia in 2007.
Anwar was received by Malaysia's Ambassador to Russia Datuk Cheong Loon Lai, while Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko welcomed him on behalf of the Russian government.
The official visit, taking place from May 13 to 16, is at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The itinerary includes engagements in Moscow and Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. - May 14, 2025
