March 2022 29 www.bahrainthismonth.com interview Secondly, we have a marketing strategy to boost Malaysian investment and use the Bahrain market as an important gateway into the region, thanks to it being so business-friendly. What do you think your greatest achievement has been so far during your tenure? I think it’s too soon to talk of achievements, but I am proud of how much the economy is continuing to rebound and improve after the pandemic. I’m excited to see how it will expand and revive. Also, I think that since I’ve arrived here I’ve opened some doors in terms of Bahrain expanding into the world market rather than focusing domestically. The Bahraini leadership has been so forthcoming and encouraging, it’s been a pleasure to work with them. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your diplomatic mission in Bahrain so far? Ultimately, you need to have that human touch, the face-to-face meetings and whatnot to show presence. However, that hasn’t always been possible so there has been a necessity for video conferences. I think at the beginning, 70 per cent of my engagements were digital, but now with Bahrain opening up again after the great work done by its leadership to combat COVID-19, I’d say that has flipped. What can you tell us about the historic relationship between Bahrain and Malaysia and how will it develop in the future? Our embassy first opened in Bahrain back in 2003, but our relationship began way before that and has grown over time. I am now the fifth ambassador here and we have always supported the development of Bahrain, particularly in the construction, banking and financial sectors. We are seeing more Malaysians in the public sector; as engineers, technicians, government workers and more. It’s been fascinating to see how the working relationship has advanced in the past couple of decades. Going forward, our relationship continues to grow as new industries and opportunities open up. We are seeing huge investment from our side into renewable energy, waste management, medicine, education and the agriculture industry. In return, I’d like to boost Malaysia’s profile and highlight the tourism aspect of our nation, which is an incredible, diverse place to visit! The connectivity between the two countries is something I definitely believe needs to be addressed, and I am actively trying to facilitate regular direct flights between both. How many Malaysians live in Bahrain currently? We have approximately 300 to 400 Malaysians here now, sadly a number that has almost halved since COVID. However, we do have Malaysians who have been here for more than 20 years, who I am delighted to represent. Could you tell us about the role of cultural exchange between the two countries? Do you have any events planned in the near future? Definitely. When we talk about relations between two countries, an exchange of culture and understanding is just as important as finance or politics. I do have some plans in the pipeline and it is my goal to showcase Malaysian culture considerably during the coming years of my tenure both from the community here and also to bring people in for Malaysia for special events. Do you have a message for the people of Bahrain? I think that one thing for sure that I want to register is my appreciation to the people and leadership of Bahrain, who have been very warm and very forthcoming in many aspects of the acceptance of my presence here. It has been a smooth transition for me. I have an open-door policy, I›m reachable to anyone and thus would like to see engagement between both countries on all levels, not just at the highest leadership level but also people-to-people. During my time here, I hope that enthusiasm continues to be there and people are willing enough to respond positively to my ideas and to give me feedback and necessary support. I believe we can work together to make our relationship successful in a number of fields.
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