By Mohammad Tariqur Rahman
For the tenth Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, dearly nick-named as PMX, a four-hour visit to Dhaka on October 4 2024 was indeed a short one. But it means a lot for his good old friend Prof. Muhammad Yunus and his country Bangladesh. Prof Muhammad Yunus has been leading the Interim Government in Bangladesh as the Chief Advisor after the fall of a 15-year-long fascism on the 5th of August 2024 ruled by the ousted and absconding former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Not unlikely that the short visit did not attract the attention of the mainstream media in Malaysia on the same day. This is the first visit by the head of any foreign government since the formation of an interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus. It is also the first state visit by any Malaysian leader to Bangladesh in 11 years.
The footage of PMX and Prof Yunus holding arms with each other while walking after arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport signifies a lot. The two premiers did not hesitate to express their brotherhood and bondage to the world.
A short and bilateral meeting with Malaysian 58 member delegates of Ministers and higher officials was expected to emphasize issues of mutual interest including economic, political, trade, education and technology, human resource development and manpower export, infrastructure development, and defense cooperation.
Besides, it has been a sincere expectation from various groups of stakeholders both in Malaysia and Bangladesh to resolve the issue of illegal Bangladeshi migrant workers residing in Malaysia. It is a sincere hope that the long-standing brotherhood between the two premiers will bring an end to the enduring predicament – which has been marred by a lack of transparency and accountability in the process of migrant worker recruitment.
Along with authorized private entities, parties from both government agencies are involved in the recruitment process – where the victims are none but the helpless job seekers. Often these victims are treated no less than modern “slaves” who seem to have no rights for health coverage, legal protection, or even proper accommodation.
While struggling to reform the country amidst an unprecedented level of corruption and nepotism, Prof Yunus and his government need support from influential nations in the region and in the world.
However, despite having strong support from the West, Prof Yunus and his government have been strongly criticized by the neighboring Indian Government. It is not unlikely that India being the saviour and host of the absconding Sheikh Hasina, has their own reasons to criticize or condemn Prof Yunus and his government.
Hence a gesture of regional longstanding friendship and cooperation by the Malaysian PMX indeed means a lot for Prof Yunus to show his regional support.
Professor Mohammad is the Deputy Executive Director of International Institute of Public Policy and Management, Universiti Malaya.