Anwar Turns Malaysia Into Dealmaking Stage With Trump’s Help

Anwar Ibrahim at the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 26.Photographer: Samsul Said/Bloomberg

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By Netty Idayu Ismail, Kok Leong Chan, Ram Anand, and Philip Heijmans

October 27, 2025 at 9:00 PM UTC

Updated on

October 28, 2025 at 10:33 AM UTC

From the moment US President Donald Trump stepped off the plane in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, it was clear that he and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim shared a rapport.

The two smiled and shook hands on the tarmac before the American president briefly boogied with local performers. The crowd cheered as he waved American and Malaysian flags, before getting into a car together — breaking protocol — where Prime Minister Anwar lobbied for lasting peace in Gaza.