Credit : Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's X
KUALA LUMPUR, October 29, 2026 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Malaysia’s incoming heads of mission to Canada, Belgium and Iran to make full use of diplomacy to open more economic opportunities for the country, strengthen friendships and safeguard Malaysia’s interests on the international stage.
Anwar received the three envoys in a courtesy call at his office in the Parliament building on Thursday, he said in a post shared on X. He said the meeting focused on efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, expand trade and investment, and explore new cooperation in strategic fields, including digital technology, artificial intelligence and green energy.
“My message is that this trust continues to make use of the room for diplomacy to open up more economic opportunities, strengthen friendships and ensure that Malaysia’s interests remain safeguarded at the international level,” he wrote in Malay, tagging the post #MalaysiaMADANI and #MADANIbekerja.
Three postings
The three diplomats are John K. Samuel, Malaysia’s incoming High Commissioner to Canada; Shaiful Anuar Mohammad, the incoming Ambassador to Belgium; and Dato’ Wan Aznainizam Yusri Wan Abdul Rashid, the incoming Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Harapan Madani reported. Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar was also present at the courtesy call, the report said.
Photographs released with the post show the Prime Minister meeting the envoys at his Parliament office. RTM’s news portal reported that Anwar reminded the three representatives to make the most of diplomatic channels, saying the trust they carry should be used to open more economic opportunities, strengthen ties of friendship and keep Malaysia’s interests protected.
The Embassy of Malaysia in Tehran, in a post on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, said the engagement underscored Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment opportunities and exploring new avenues of strategic cooperation, particularly in digital technology, artificial intelligence and green energy. The embassy said it remained committed to advancing Malaysia–Iran relations and safeguarding Malaysia’s interests through proactive diplomacy.
Round of calls before departure
The meeting with Anwar came a day after the same three envoys called on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at Parliament on October 28, as reported by LNA. Zahid said then that he believed the experience and expertise of the three diplomats would help strengthen Malaysia’s relations with their respective host countries, and wished them success in their new assignments.
The three heads of mission received their letters of appointment from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, at Istana Negara on October 19, according to earlier reports by Bernama and other national media. Samuel will serve as High Commissioner rather than Ambassador because Malaysia and Canada are both members of the Commonwealth, while Shaiful Anuar will be based in Brussels and Wan Aznainizam Yusri will lead Malaysia’s mission in Tehran.
Anwar’s emphasis on digital technology, artificial intelligence and green energy reflects the areas the government has highlighted for new cooperation, with Malaysia’s missions abroad expected to promote trade and investment alongside their diplomatic and consular work.
Source : Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s X (https://x.com/anwaribrahim/status/2115753981851181227), with additional reporting from Harapan Madani, RTM and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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