Chief of Royal Malaysian Navy Visits India

• 25 Aug 2022

For Prelims: India Malaysia Relations, Trend of Trade and exchange between India Malaysia

For Mains: India- Malaysia Relations and Recent developments.

Why in News?

Recently, the Chief of Royal Malaysian Navy visited India at the invitation of Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy.

• Both Navies have recently concluded the Bilateral Exercise Samudra Laksamana in May 2022 and the Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks in June 2022.

How has India Malaysia Relations been?

• India established diplomatic relations with Malaysia in 1957.
• Economic Relation:
  • India and Malaysia have signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
    • CECA is a kind of Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
  • India has also signed the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in services and investments with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
    • Malaysia is the third largest trading partner in ASEAN.
  • Bilateral trade between India and Malaysia is significantly biased in favour of Malaysia.
• Defence & Security Cooperation:
  • Joint military exercises “Harimau Shakti” are held annually between the two countries.
• Traditional medicine:
  • India and Malaysia signed a MoU on cooperation in the field of Traditional Medicine in October 2010.
  • The Government of Malaysia has been working to popularize AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) systems in Malaysia.
    • AYUSH systems are practiced in Malaysia.
• Recent Developments:
  • In 2020, India resumed purchases of Malaysian palm oil after a gap of four-month following a diplomatic row between the two countries.
  • The former Prime Minister of Malaysia had criticised India's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which was considered as an interference in the internal matters of India.

What is the Significance of Malaysia for India?

• As a country where 7.2% of the population is of Indian origin, Malaysia assumes an important place in India’s foreign policy.
• Surrounded by busy sea lines of communications such as the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea, Malaysia is also a key pillar of India’s Act East policy and critical to India’s maritime connectivity strategies.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Q. Indian Diaspora has an important role to play in South East Asian countries’ economy and society. Appraise the role of Indian Diaspora in South-East Asia in this context. (2017).

Q. With respect to the South China sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China. (2014)

Source: PIB