India and Malaysia pledge to combat terrorism, radicalisation
NEW DELHI: India and Malaysia will step up cooperation in several areas including combating terrorism, militancy and radicalisation in the region, their prime ministers said on Saturday after talks in New Delhi.
Visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi had expressed interest in Malaysia’s” deradicalisation process.”
Both countries have had to tackle militancy in their territory and neighbourhood. Strategic and defence cooperation would be an important step in fighting global militancy, terrorism, the IS group, and all other forms of extremism, Najib said, to make the region “a safer place.”
Seven pacts were also signed in the presence of the two premiers in various fields including palm oil technology, transport, farming and skills development.
“This is a historic time in our relations as it is the 60th anniversary of our diplomatic relations,” Modi said.
Najib arrived in the southern city of Chennai on Thursday on a six-day visit which will also take him to Jaipur. He is accompanied by his wife Rosmah Mansor and Foreign Minister Anifah Aman as well as cabinet ministers and senior government officials.
The Indian community in Malaysia is the country’s third-largest ethnic group and many Indian Malaysians still have connections in India.
Najib said his visit to Chennai had left him a fan of Tamil films.
He also announced Indian citizens based in any country visiting Malaysia for 15 days would not have to pay visa fees and their papers would be cleared in 48 hours.