The three-day official visit to Turkiye couldn’t have been timelier or more strategic and underscores a paradigm shift. To be sure, he did not go to Ankara as a passing sojourner, for this was the third visit to Turkiye since becoming Prime Minister. This is exemplified in the inaugural Malaysia–Turkiye High-Lev­el Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), underlining the key word “strategic” and signifying the transition from mere cooperation (seen as being contingent on the vagaries of leadership status) to one that is more secure and predictable. Naturally, it demands long-term commitment across a broad spectrum of interests, not the least being the core sectors in trade, defence and security, and techno­logy. Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah is Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Isis) chairman.

Source: The Star January 12, 2026 11:59 UTC