Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim to visit Tamil Nadu in September, calls CM Vijay
Synopsis
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has told Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay he may visit the state in September — a diplomatically loaded promise that comes alongside his planned BRICS Summit attendance and bilateral talks with PM Modi. It is the second congratulatory outreach from Kuala Lumpur in under two weeks, signalling that Malaysia is watching the new Tamil Nadu government closely.
Key Takeaways
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim called Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay on 22 May to congratulate him on assuming office.
Ibrahim confirmed he will travel to India in September for the BRICS Summit and bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi .
He said he would make a brief visit to Tamil Nadu if the opportunity arises during his India trip.
This is the second congratulatory gesture from Ibrahim in under two weeks — the first came on 12 May after Vijay's election victory.
India holds the BRICS chair in 2026 under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday, 22 May held a phone conversation with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, congratulating him on assuming office and signalling a potential visit to the state as early as September 2025.
What Ibrahim Said
During the call, Ibrahim informed Vijay that he would be travelling to India in September to attend the BRICS Summit and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He added that, if the opportunity arose, he would make a brief stopover in Tamil Nadu.
'Had a conversation and caught up with my friend, CM Vijay, today and once again extended my congratulations on the great responsibility he is shouldering for the people of Tamil Nadu,' Ibrahim posted on X. 'I also informed him that I will be traveling to India in September to attend the BRICS Summit and hold a meeting with PM Modi, and if the opportunity arises, I will make a brief visit to Tamil Nadu,' he added.
A Second Congratulatory Gesture in Two Weeks
This marks the second time in under two weeks that Ibrahim has publicly congratulated Vijay. On 12 May, the Malaysian Prime Minister had warmly welcomed Vijay's election victory, noting the 'deep historical, cultural and people-to-people ties' between Malaysia and Tamil Nadu.
In that earlier post on X, Ibrahim had written: 'I warmly congratulate my friend Vijay on being elected Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu... The people of Tamil Nadu have now entrusted Vijay with a responsibility far greater than any role performed on screen. Oru Viral Puratchi — the 'one-finger revolution' — is now on the cusp of creating history.'
India's BRICS Chairmanship in 2026
India holds the BRICS chair in 2026 under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' — a people-centric framework articulated by Prime Minister Modi at the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 2025. Ibrahim's planned attendance at the summit underlines Malaysia's intent to deepen engagement with the BRICS bloc as it expands its global footprint.
Malaysia-Tamil Nadu Ties in Focus
The warmth in Ibrahim's outreach reflects longstanding demographic and cultural links between Malaysia and Tamil Nadu, where a significant portion of Malaysia's Indian-origin community traces its roots. A confirmed visit by the Malaysian Prime Minister to Chennai would be diplomatically significant, offering Vijay an early high-profile bilateral moment in his tenure as Chief Minister.
Whether the Tamil Nadu stopover materialises will depend on the final scheduling of Ibrahim's India itinerary around the BRICS Summit. All eyes will now be on the September visit for further signals of the bilateral relationship's direction under the new Tamil Nadu government.
Point of View
And Ibrahim is clearly positioning Kuala Lumpur for early access to the new Chennai administration. The BRICS framing is also notable: it ties a bilateral state-level visit to India's biggest multilateral moment of 2026, giving any Tamil Nadu stopover outsized visibility. For Vijay, still in the early weeks of his tenure, a visit from a sitting foreign head of government would be a significant early credential — but it remains contingent on scheduling, and Ibrahim's language was deliberately hedged.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim call Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay?
Anwar Ibrahim called Vijay on 22 May to congratulate him on assuming office as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. During the call, Ibrahim also informed Vijay of his planned visit to India in September for the BRICS Summit and possible stopover in Tamil Nadu.
Will Anwar Ibrahim visit Tamil Nadu in September 2025?
Ibrahim said he would visit Tamil Nadu 'if the opportunity arises' during his India trip in September, where he is scheduled to attend the BRICS Summit and meet PM Narendra Modi. The Tamil Nadu visit is not yet confirmed and is subject to his final itinerary.
What is the BRICS Summit that Anwar Ibrahim plans to attend?
India holds the BRICS chair in 2026 under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'. The summit framework was set out by PM Modi at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2025, and Ibrahim plans to attend the India-hosted edition in September.
How many times has Anwar Ibrahim congratulated CM Vijay?
Ibrahim has congratulated Vijay twice in under two weeks — first on 12 May after Vijay's election victory, and again during their phone call on 22 May after he assumed office.
What are the historical ties between Malaysia and Tamil Nadu?
Malaysia and Tamil Nadu share deep historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties, largely rooted in the Tamil-origin diaspora in Malaysia. Ibrahim himself highlighted these links in his 12 May post on X, expressing interest in close cooperation with the new Tamil Nadu government.
