Indian prime minister, Mr Narendra Modi, paid a flying visit to Malaysia at the invitation of his counterpart, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and in one fell swoop boosted bilateral ties between the two nations.

Anwar understands and realises that the subcontinent of India has a booming and vibrant economy and offers a myriad of opportunities for Malaysia and vice versa which is why the invite to Modi was sent.

But the South Asian quagmire of which India forms a vital and important role is shared by its toxic neighbours Pakistan on the west, Bangladesh in the east and Sri Lanka on the south of India posing a complex scenario in its geo-politics.

Anwar has to masterfully and skillfully navigate through the region as Pakistan is a welfare state in need of assistance which they have sought from Malaysia and Bangladesh is an exporter of migrant labour.

Sri Lanka is in a critical situation as they are still engaged in nation building and might want to seek Anwar’s help and assistance to regain a semblance of independence as a sovereign state once more.

In considering the South Asia region, Anwar has to be deft in his manoeuvres and try and prise a deal between India’s neighbours in the hope of transforming and equitably distributing resources for these poorer nations to flourish.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE