Paris: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reached out to his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, expressing his desire for Canada to reconsider the visa requirements currently imposed on Malaysian citizens. Anwar's appeal highlights the need to align with the visa exemptions granted to other Commonwealth countries, aiming to foster closer ties and boost multilateral exchanges between the two nations.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar conveyed his hopes through a post on X, emphasizing the importance of such an exemption in strengthening people-to-people connections. The Prime Minister is presently on an official visit to Paris, where he took the opportunity to congratulate Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the Liberal Party's success in the recent Canadian elections.

Currently, Malaysians are required to obtain a visa for various purposes, including tourism, study, or work trips to Canada. The process involves fees payable to the Canadian government, alongside a biometric fee and potential additional costs for services from VFS Global, the appointed third-party administrator for Canadian visas in Malaysia. Anwar's communication with Carney seeks to address these requirements and streamline travel between the two Commonwealth nations.