PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was today conferred the Order of Independence, Kosovo’s highest civilian award, by the country’s president, Dr Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, in a ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex in Putrajaya.
The award was conferred during an official ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex today, as part of President Osmani’s four-day state visit to Malaysia.
The event began with an official welcome and inspection of the guard of honour, comprising three officers and 103 personnel from the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment (Ceremonial), led by Major Muhammad Fikri Senan.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said: “The award recognises Malaysia’s steadfast support for the development and post-independence progress of Kosovo, as well as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s strong commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.”
Foreign diplomats, senior government officials, and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek were among those present at the ceremony.
The Government of Kosovo is also set to posthumously honour former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for his role during a pivotal moment in Kosovo’s history. “Under his administration, Malaysia became one of the earliest countries to recognise Kosovo’s independence on 30 October 2008,” the PMO noted.
President Osmani, who arrived in Malaysia yesterday on her first visit since assuming office on 4 April 2021, was later hosted at an official luncheon by Prime Minister Anwar at the Seri Perdana Complex. She arrived at the Prime Minister’s official residence at 11:15 am, where a group of 60 schoolchildren from Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 8(3) greeted her with smiles and waved flags of both nations.
Earlier in the day, bilateral talks were held between the two leaders, focusing on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, education, and people-to-people exchanges. Discussions also touched on Malaysia’s upcoming Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025.
Malaysia formally recognised Kosovo on 30 October 2008 and established diplomatic relations on 18 March 2011, becoming one of the first Asian nations to do so.
In 2024, total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Kosovo amounted to RM28.55 million (US\$6 million), with Malaysian exports valued at RM25.92 million (US\$5.5 million) and imports at RM2.63 million (US\$550,000). Malaysia’s main exports include palm oil, electrical and electronic products, and manufactured goods, while imports from Kosovo mainly consist of raw materials and semi-precious stones. – May 2, 2025