The ties between India and Malaysia are on the upswing in the time of the coronavirus pandemic, with New Delhi’s decision to supply hydroxychloroquine healing the strains in bilateral relations. Malaysia said on Thursday that New Delhi had agreed to sell the antimalaria drug which many believe to be a possible treatment for Covid-19 infection.
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India had last month put a hold on export of the anti-malarial drug, but has allowed its supply to a select group of countries.
“On April 14, India gave permission to import 89,100 tablets,” Malaysia’s deputy foreign minister Kamarudin Jaffar was quoted as saying in the local media on Thursday.
In a tweet, Malaysian foreign minister Hishammuddin Hussein showed his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar beaming in an April 13 video call. Hussein also appreciated New Delhi’s efforts in helping evacuate Malaysians who were stranded in India after the Covid 19 lockdown.
The relations between India and Malaysia had soured because of repeated criticism of New Delhi’s policies by the previous government of Mahathir Mohamad. Things, however, are changing under the new leadership of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin
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Muhyiddin, known for his inclusive approach towards a multi-ethnic and multi-racial Malaysia, soon after assuming office announced that he would solve the palm oil crisis with India in a “month’s time”. India took the cue and wasted no time.
India’s high commissioner to Malaysia Mridul Kumar, who has been actively involved in the rebuilding of the ties, says there is a new vigour in the countries’ relationship.
Kumar is the first foreign ambassador to be invited for a one-on-one with Muhyiddin, and that too amid meetings between Covid-19 stimulus package and lockdown declaration in Malaysia.
Talking to TOI, Kumar said, “The current government under PM Muhyiddin took the direction of an immediate course correction. What helped was the fact that our ties, based on vibrant people to people connect, is the natural way of this partnership, and one which stands at the enhanced strategic level. – Times of India