Putrajaya:Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today expressed his gratitude to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his critical involvement in facilitating Malaysia's humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, which includes efforts to transport injured victims from Gaza to Malaysia for medical care.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar acknowledged Egypt's substantial support for Malaysia's humanitarian initiatives, highlighting that this coordination was managed directly through the Egyptian President's office and the country's military intelligence.

Anwar noted that while Malaysia's contributions were modest compared to Egypt's extensive efforts, Cairo's cooperation was key in enabling Malaysia to deliver its aid. He expressed his appreciation during a joint press conference with El-Sisi at the Seri Perdana Complex.

In addition to discussing humanitarian aid, Anwar and El-Sisi addressed international issues such as the unresolved tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and its implications for Iran. Anwar reiterated Malaysia's strong position against the violence inflicted upon Palestinians, particularly by Israel in Gaza.

President El-Sisi is visiting Malaysia from October 9 to 10, marking his first state visit since taking office in 2014. The visit, invited by Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, aims to elevate the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership after over sixty years of diplomatic ties.

The trade relationship between Malaysia and Egypt has seen significant growth, with bilateral trade increasing by 74.7% to RM3.49 billion (US$0.87 billion) in the first eight months of 2026, exceeding the RM3.08 billion (US$0.72 billion) recorded for the entire year of 2025. In 2025, Egypt was Malaysia's seventh-largest trading partner in Africa, with Malaysian exports valued at RM2.55 billion (US$0.60 billion) and imports at RM530 million (US$0.12 billion).