LETTERS: Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Kuala Lumpur for four days last month.
It followed the high-level visit by Indian State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Minister V. Muraleedharan, signalling an uptick in relations.
Rajnath and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan discussed initiatives to expand defence ties, focusing on identifying ways to strengthen industrial cooperation.
This was most prominently seen with Rajnath inaugurating the regional office of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
These visits are part of efforts to boost relations between two nations, which are critical due to their strategic location in the Indo-Pacific.
India and Malaysia discussed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the recruitment of workers.
This MoU is expected to lead to smoother management of labour and also address problems faced by Indian workers in Malaysia and Malaysian workers in India.
Under the MoU, a group comprising representatives from the two countries will be set up to monitor and provide solutions to issues faced by the workers.
Economic and commercial relations are also a significant part of the relations between the two countries.
Up to 2021-2022, Malaysia has emerged as the 13th largest trading partner for India, while India is among Malaysia's 10th largest trading partners.
Total bilateral trade in 2022 was RM86.3 billion, with more than 150 Indian companies, including 61 Indian joint ventures, operating in Malaysia.
This new mechanism is expected to boost trade and overcome currency-related obstacles.
However, Rajnath's visit did not build on Muraleedharan's invitation to collaborate on any pillar of India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (Ipoi) and work together for the sustainable development of the Indo-Pacific region.
The Ipoi is significant for Malaysia and Asean due to geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Ipoi seeks to promote a free and inclusive Indo-Pacific while empowering Asean Centrality, aligning with the interests of Malaysia and Asean members.
These nations have a vested interest in maintaining the stability and security of the maritime domain, and the Ipoi serves as a platform to achieve these goals.
Through the Ipoi, Malaysia can boost its strategic position and assert more relevance in the Indo-Pacific landscape.
Lastly, on Indian-Malaysian relations, while both countries have engaged in high-level defence engagements with plans to improve cooperation in cultural diplomacy and digital economy, the focus should be on specific areas of collaboration.
KARISMA PUTERA ABD RAHMAN
NABIELA ISMAIL
Research and advocacy analysts
Bait Al Amanah
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times