KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is committed to working closely with Brunei and fellow Asean member states to navigate growing regional and international uncertainties through dialogue, diplomacy and goodwill.
Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei Datuk Mohd Aini Atan (pic) said Asean remains the cornerstone of Malaysia’s foreign policy on the regional front.
"Acknowledging the growing regional and international uncertainties, Malaysia is committed to working closely together with Brunei and our fellow Asean Member States in navigating Asean towards promoting strategic trust and mutual confidence among countries through continued dialogue, diplomacy and goodwill,” he said in his speech at Malaysia’s National Day and Malaysia Day reception in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei on Wednesday.
Also present were the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (Security and Law), Datuk Seri Setia Sufian Sabtu, and his wife, Datin Suriati Abang.
Mohd Aini said Malaysia also reaffirmed its support for the Philippines’ Asean Chairmanship this year, particularly in efforts to uphold Asean Centrality and Unity.
"We look forward to the successful culmination of the Philippines’ Chairmanship later in November during the 49th Asean Summit. It is my fervent hope to see that diplomacy continues to thrive in the current landscape of an increasingly fragmented world,” he added.
On bilateral economic relations, Mohd Aini said Brunei remained Malaysia’s sixth-largest trading partner among Asean member states in 2025, with total trade amounting to US$1.37 billion.
"This year, I am pleased to see that trade has remained robust, and was recorded at US$0.6 billion from January until June 2026,” he said, describing the figures as demonstrating the resilience of Malaysia-Brunei economic partnership amidst growing global market uncertainties.
He said the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Brunei Darussalam and the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia would further strengthen business networks and expand commercial exchanges.
"I am confident that this agreement will serve as a catalyst for deeper economic cooperation between our two nations,” he said.
On defence and security, Mohd Aini said the longstanding partnership between the Malaysian Armed Forces and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces continued to strengthen through regular exchanges, specialised training programmes and joint military exercises.
On tourism, he said Malaysia welcomed 696,507 tourist arrivals from Brunei between January and June 2026, reflecting continued strong interest among Bruneians in visiting Malaysia.
"With the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 now extended to 2027, I take this opportunity to invite all Bruneians to discover, or perhaps, rediscover the many experiences that Malaysia has to offer,” he said.
He also proposed greater synergy between the two countries’ tourism campaigns as Brunei prepares for Visit Brunei Year 2027, saying both nations can complement each other’s tourism sectors for mutual benefit.
On education, Mohd Aini said Malaysia remained one of the preferred destinations for Bruneian students, with more than 700 students currently enrolled in Malaysian higher education institutions.
"Therefore, I warmly invite more Bruneian students to consider Malaysia, which offers a wide range of internationally recognised programmes, including 32 universities featured in the QS World University Rankings 2026,” he said.
Malaysia and Brunei established diplomatic relations in 1984, with bilateral ties strengthened through frequent high-level exchanges and cooperation across various sectors.
The latest high-level engagement was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Brunei from Aug 21 to 22 for the 27th Annual Leaders’ Consultation with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, which was a crucial platform to address matters of mutual interest and chart a roadmap for future cooperation. - Bernama
