PM quips 'loyal friend' Prabowo now carries title 'higher than Datuk Seri'

Summary

• Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in a joint press conference with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto quips that his ‘loyal friend’ now has a title higher than his own ‘Datuk Seri’.

• Prabowo expresses gratitude for the award and pledges commitment to uphold relations with Malaysia.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in an appearance with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto today quipped that his "loyal friend" now carries a title higher than his own.

Prabowo (above, left) revealed in a joint press conference today, that he had received a title from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar's home state of Johor, to which Anwar interjected with a smile “higher than 'Datuk Seri’.”

The press conference was aired live following a meeting between the two leaders together with a ministers' delegation.

In his speech, Prabowo, who expressed gratitude over the award, also briefly reminisced on his schooling days in Kuala Lumpur.

Earlier today, Sultan Ibrahim conferred Prabowo with the Darjah Kerabat Johor Yang Amat Dihormati I (The Most Esteemed Order of the Johor Royal I) award during an investiture ceremony at Istana Negara.

“His Excellency president Prabowo is a close friend of His Majesty, whom he has known for over 40 years, since their military training days in the United States in the 1980s,” according to the king’s official Facebook.

In his brief address, Anwar noted that Prabowo's state visit was scheduled at the invitation of Sultan Ibrahim.

"As you are all aware, Prabowo has been awarded the highest state honour of Johor at the Istana Negara.

"This signifies the friendship and familial bond with the family of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor, and of course, we are pleased with this development, which reflects the uniqueness and special nature of the friendship and relationship that does not occur between any other countries,” he said.

Through thick and thin

The premier shared that Prabowo was among his few loyal friends who always showed concern and care during his long years of hardship.

"So once again, on behalf of myself and my family, I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to my friend and brother, Prabowo, who has stood by me through thick and thin,” Anwar said.

"There are not many whose greatness and sincerity we can truly recognise, and I count Prabowo among the exceptions, due to his closeness and dedication, even to the point of causing discomfort and anger from certain parties at the time," Anwar added.

According to Bernama, Prabowo's visit is the first state visit by a foreign head of state since Sultan Ibrahim's installation as Agong.

Meanwhile, Prabowo, in a post on his official X account, said that the royal order conferred upon him today was the second awarded to an Indonesian president by the Johor Sultanate.

He noted that the last time such an award was bestowed on an Indonesian president was in 1990 to Soeharto, who served in office from 1967 to 1998.

“As the highest mark of honour from the Johor Sultanate, this recognition stands as a strong symbol of friendship and close cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia,” he said in the post.

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