Malaysian PM Ibrahim to visit India for BRICS summit in September

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim plans to visit India in September to attend the BRICS summit and meet with PM Modi, potentially including a brief visit to Tamil Nadu.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday said that he will visit India in September to attend the BRICS summit.

Ibrahim made the remarks during a telephonic conversation with his ''friend'' Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Chandrasekar Joseph Vijay.

In a post on X, Ibrahim said he told the actor-turned-politician about his visit to India, during which he might also make a ''brief visit'' to Tamil Nadu.

''I also informed him that I will be traveling to India in September to attend the BRICS Summit and hold a meeting with PM Modi, and if the opportunity arises, I will make a brief visit to Tamil Nadu,'' Ibrahim said.

India, as the chair of the BRICS, will host the annual summit of the grouping in September.

BRICS, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, with Indonesia joining in 2025.

During the call, Ibrahim again congratulated Vijay on the ''great responsibility he is shouldering for the people of Tamil Nadu.''.

Vijay, the 51-year-old Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder-chief, was sworn in as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on May 10.

''May CM Vijay continue to be granted strength and wisdom to lead and govern well for the well-being of the people and a perfect future for Tamil Nadu,'' Ibrahim said.

The Malaysian PM had congratulated Vijay after his swearing in earlier and hailed the ''deep'' ties between his country and Tamil Nadu.

There are around 2.75 million (about 6.8 per cent of Malaysia's population) Persons of Indian Origin in Malaysia, 90 per cent of whom speak Tamil.