A video of Anwar performing Kishore Kumar’s “Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat” from memory was posted to his social‑media account on Sunday and quickly spread to Indian news outlets, drawing amused reactions across the region.
The performance coincided with Anwar’s participation in the BRICS summit in New Delhi, where Malaysia attended as a partner country from Sept. 12‑13 and met Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for a bilateral discussion.
Analysts say the visit reflects Malaysia’s “friend to all, enemy to none” foreign‑policy stance, seeking to broaden its pool of partners while avoiding a forced alignment in the intensifying US‑China rivalry, according to Kamles Kumar, associate director for Malaysia at Asia Group Advisors.
Malaysia’s trade with the United States and China together exceeded 900 billion ringgit (US$220 billion) in 2025, but bilateral commerce with India lagged at 79.3 billion ringgit, a fraction of its trade with the two superpowers. Economics professor Yeah Kim Leng of Sunway University noted that India’s 1.4 billion‑person market remains largely untapped despite a comprehensive strategic partnership signed in 2024.
Both sides see semiconductors as a natural entry point: Malaysia’s advanced packaging and testing capabilities could complement India’s integrated‑circuit design expertise, while Malaysia could increase palm‑oil exports to India and import Indian rice to bolster food security, said Eric Low of Densui.
Following his talks with Modi, Anwar announced interest in acquiring the BrahMos air‑to‑surface missile system, jointly developed by India and Russia, a move that could diversify Malaysia’s defence sources away from the United States and its allies. Kamles Kumar warned that the missile’s range could affect perceptions of Malaysia’s deterrence posture in the South China Sea, urging clear communication of defensive intent.
Observers caution that deeper Malaysia‑India ties may invite pressure from Washington and Beijing to choose sides as the three nuclear powers vie for influence. Hafidzi Razali, chief executive of Strategic Counsel, reiterated that Malaysia has historically hedged its position through diversification and a neutral stance.