OVERVIEW OF PHILIPPINES-MALAYSIA BILATERAL RELATIONS

Formal Establishment of Relations:

18 May 1964
(Note: Philippine Legation established in 1959)

PH Head of State and Government

H.E. Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr.

PH Foreign Affairs Secretary

H.E. Enrique A. Manalo

PH Ambassador to MY

H.E Maria Angela A. Ponce

MY Head of State

His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia

MY Head of Government

The Honourable Dato’ Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim

MY Foreign Minister

H.E. Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan

MY Ambassador to PH

Amb. Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino 09 February 2023 – Present

Relations between the Philippines and Malaysia are deep and longstanding, as the two countries are neighbors and partners in ASEAN, and the Filipino and Malaysian peoples have interacted since time immemorial.

Diplomatic relations began in 1959 when the Philippine legation was established in Kuala Lumpur, and was formally instituted as a consulate on 18 May 1964.

High-level Visits

The past few years saw a number of high-level visits by Philippine and Malaysian officials which further strengthened the two countries’ good bilateral ties.

Visits of the Heads of States:

Name of Official

Date and Purpose of the Visit

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim

 Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

25-27 July 2023- State Visit

1-2 March 2023 – Official Visit

6-8 March 2019 – Official Visit to Manila

·    President Rodrigo Roa Duterte

14-16 July 2018 - Official Visit

November 2016 - Part of PRRD’s Introductory Tour to the ASEAN Member States

·    Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak 

April and November 2017 - ASEAN Summit Events

November 2015 - APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting

March 2014 - Attended the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro

October 2012 - Witnessed the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro

·       President Benigno S. Aquino III

April 2015 - 26th ASEAN Summit

November 2015 - 27th ASEAN Summit

February 2014 – State Visit

Other high-level visits include the following:

Name of Official

Date and Purpose of the Visit

·    H.M. Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, Sultan of Johor 

11-13 July 2019 – Official Visit

·    Vice President Jejomar C. Binay

June 2014 - Attended the inauguration of the World Scout Kuala Lumpur Office

May 2012 – Official Visit

M  Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato’ Sri Saifuddin Abdullah

30 June 2022 – Attended the inauguration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

08 – 10 December 2019 – Working Visit

·    Foreign Affairs Secretary Allan Peter S. Cayetano

12-16 July 2018 – Official Visit

August 2017 - Closing and turn-over ceremony of the 29th South East Asian Games (SEA Games)

·    Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato’ Sri Anifah Aman

November 2016 -

September 2013 - Meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario

June 2013 - Working Visit to Manila/Meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario

·   Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario

November 2015 - 27th ASEAN Summit

August 2015 - ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

February 2015 - Member of the delegation during PBSA’s State Visit to MY

31 March – 01 April 2011 - Introductory visit

Joint Commission Meeting (JCM)

In 1993, the Philippines and Malaysia established an over-arching coordinating mechanism, the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), which was later renamed as the Joint Commission Meeting (JCM).

The JCM created other mechanisms to further enhance cooperation in the political, economic, security, tourism, cultural and other fields. It has met eight times – in 1993, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2011. and 2024.

Twenty agreements, protocols and declarations have been signed to date, covering education, culture, tourism, defense, consular, politico-security, economy, health and environment.