Indonesia's Jokowi first foreign leader to call Anwar with congratulatory message

PETALING JAYA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo was the first head of state to congratulate Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on his appointment as Malaysia's 10th Prime Minister.

Anwar, who spoke with Widodo on the phone hours after being sworn in, expressed hopes for a strengthened relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia.

“I affirm that Indonesia is a true friend of Malaysia and I hope that trade and business relations, investment, culture and labour issues can be improved.

“The friendship between the two must be strengthened,” Anwar said in a Facebook post Thursday (Nov 24).

Anwar was sworn in at 5pm on Thursday at Istana Negara.