Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim visited the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) on Friday ahead of the Formula One (F1) Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, which runs from October 2 to October 5. The event marks a return of the prestigious Bahrain race to Malaysian soil, with SIC serving as a temporary host. Malaysia had previously held its own Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang between 1999 and 2017 before it was removed from the F1 calendar.
Anwar arrived at SIC around 3:30 p.m., where he was received by management from both SIC and Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). The Prime Minister toured the pit lane area and subsequently met with representatives from both circuits. He also inspected facilities in the circuit’s “mall area” to assess event preparations ahead of the arrival of fans. Additionally, Anwar observed a rehearsal performance featuring the Royal Malay Regiment Central Band and Bahrain Police Band and interacted with volunteers supporting the race.
Accompanying Anwar were Youth and Sports Minister Dr. Mohammed Taufiq Johari, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, SIC CEO Azhan Shafrinman Hanif, and BIC CEO Sheikh Salman Isa Al Khalifa.
In separate diplomatic engagements, Anwar commended outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing for his role in enhancing bilateral relations during a farewell call on Thursday. The Prime Minister highlighted the strong cooperation between Malaysia and China in areas such as the economy, technology, education, and culture. He particularly noted strategic collaboration on infrastructure projects including the East Coast Rail Link, as well as advancements in 5G technology, artificial intelligence, port development, and the rare earth industry.
During the meeting, Anwar received a gift from Chinese Premier Li Qiang—a book on Hangzhou, the premier’s hometown, which Anwar had recently visited. Ouyang underscored that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia earlier this year marked a new chapter in what he described as the “Golden 50 Years” of Malaysia-China relations. According to the ambassador, bilateral trade reached nearly US$200 billion last year, up from US$131.16 billion in 2020, with China holding the position as Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years.
Ouyang also pointed to increased people-to-people exchanges during his tenure, with Malaysia recording 4.66 million Chinese tourist arrivals last year, while nearly 2.36 million Malaysians visited China. The number of Chinese students in Malaysia expanded significantly, from 3,820 to over 73,000.
In another development, SpaceX, the U.S.-based aerospace company, donated 50 Starlink satellite internet kits to support Malaysia’s disaster preparedness efforts. The presentation took place at the Perdana Putra Building in Putrajaya during a meeting attended by Anwar and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil. Discussions included plans to strengthen strategic cooperation through Starlink, with a focus on extending reliable internet connectivity to rural communities, including those in Sabah, Sarawak, and Orang Asli settlements in Peninsular Malaysia.
Anwar expressed appreciation for SpaceX’s role in supporting the government’s National Digital Network initiative aimed at improving internet coverage and quality across the country.