PUTRAJAYA October 3, 2026 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday welcomed the arrival of Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, for the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026.
In a statement posted on X, Anwar expressed appreciation for Bahrain’s support and that of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which he said had made possible Formula 1’s return to Sepang for the first time since 2017.
He also thanked the Bahrain International Circuit, Sepang International Circuit and the Ministry of Youth and Sports for close cooperation since July, allowing race preparations to be completed in a short time.
“We also took the opportunity of this meeting to discuss efforts to strengthen Malaysia–Bahrain ties, including accelerating senior officials’ negotiations to activate the High-Level Joint Committee and drive the bilateral agenda strategically,” Anwar said.
Aligned with the MADANI Economy aspiration and Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, both sides were determined to broaden cooperation in health, Islamic finance, technology, tourism, food security, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and smart manufacturing, he added.
Malaysia welcomed Bahraini investment, while Malaysian companies were ready to use Bahrain as a gateway to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market for the prosperity and wellbeing of both peoples, the statement said.
Anwar wished the Bahraini delegation, teams, drivers and visitors a smooth and successful race weekend.
Source: Prime Minister’s Office / @anwaribrahim
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