Anwar welcomes Bahrain investment as F1 brings Gulf ties into focus

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim pays a visit to the Mercedes-AMG Petronas team pit during the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying session at the Sepang International Circuit in Selangor on October 3, 2026. — Pictures from Facebook/Anwar Ibrahim

First Published: Sunday, 04 Oct 2026 8:59 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — Malaysia welcomes investment from Bahrain and is ready to expand cooperation in various fields, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

In a post on X last night, Anwar said the cooperation would cover healthcare, Islamic finance, technology, tourism, food security, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and smart manufacturing.

He said the areas were among those discussed during his meeting with Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is visiting Malaysia in conjunction with the 2026 Formula 1 (F1) Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

“Malaysia welcomes investment from Bahrain, while Malaysian companies are ready to leverage Bahrain as a gateway to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market, for the prosperity and well-being of the people of both countries.

“We also used the meeting to discuss efforts to strengthen Malaysia-Bahrain ties, including expediting senior officials’ consultations to activate the High-Level Joint Committee and strategically advance the bilateral agenda.

“In line with the aspirations of the Madani Economy and Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, we are committed to expanding cooperation in healthcare, Islamic finance, technology, tourism, food security, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and smart manufacturing,” he said.

Anwar also expressed appreciation for the support from Bahrain and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which enabled the F1 race to return to Sepang for the first time since 2017.

“Appreciation also goes to Bahrain International Circuit, Sepang International Circuit and the Ministry of Youth and Sports for their close cooperation since July, enabling preparations for the race to be completed within a short period,” he said.

He expressed hope that the Bahraini delegation, all teams, drivers and visitors would enjoy a smooth and memorable race weekend. — Bernama