Malaysia’s new ambassador to Türkiye, Adlan Mohd Shaffieq, has likened the country to a big open museum, praising its rich cultural heritage and the warm hospitality he has received since arriving in Ankara.
“Your country is like a big open museum. All of the cities that I go to are like free, open museums where you can go and watch the culture,” Shaffieq told Anadolu in an interview.
“It has a very deep culture. So, it's very interesting for me to discover your country,” he added.
Shaffieq, who recently began his tenure in Ankara, shared his first impressions of Türkiye, his family life and his views on relations between the two countries.
The diplomat said he was delighted to be appointed to Türkiye for his first ambassadorial posting, particularly because he believed his four children, aged between five and 11, would enjoy living in Ankara.
“Malaysia and Türkiye are like brothers and sisters,” he said, describing the warm hospitality he has experienced since his arrival.
Shared family values and historical ties
Shaffieq highlighted similarities between Malaysian and Turkish cultures, particularly their strong family ties and respect for parents.
“I think the similarities between Malaysian and Turkish families is that we are very close-knit,” he said.
Shaffieq said families in both countries enjoy gathering during religious holidays and other occasions to celebrate, cook and share meals.
The ambassador noted that Turkish television series and films have helped Malaysians become more familiar with Türkiye, while emphasising that relations between the two countries stretch back for centuries.
“Our history has the linkage not only recently, but during the Ottoman Empire,” he said, pointing to historical contacts between the Ottoman Empire and the Sultanate of Melaka.
‘Your ice cream is the best ice cream in the world’
Touching on Turkish cuisine, Shaffieq said Malaysian food differs considerably from Turkish dishes, with Malaysians generally preferring spicier meals.
However, he was particularly enthusiastic about Turkish ice cream.
“Your ice cream is the best ice cream in the world. My kids love it,” he said.
“I think food is also one of the areas that we should focus on when it comes to cultural exchanges,” he added.
The ambassador also expressed his fondness for menemen, a traditional Turkish breakfast dish made with eggs, tomatoes and peppers.
Shaffieq said he had been learning Turkish for approximately three months and intended to learn as much of the language as possible during his posting.
Unique cultural experiences
The ambassador said he had already visited several destinations in Türkiye, including Cappadocia, Kastamonu and Konya, in addition to the capital Ankara, each of which he described as having its own distinctive character.
He mentioned that he had also recently attended tomato and carrot festivals, held separately in different parts of Ankara in late September, describing both experiences as immensely unique.
Shaffieq said the opportunity to experience different local traditions and explore the country’s cultural heritage had made his time in Türkiye particularly rewarding.
Trade, defence cooperation and tourism
On bilateral relations, Shaffieq said Malaysia and Türkiye are making significant progress, pointing to growing cooperation in trade and defence.
He said bilateral trade reached approximately $5.6 billion in 2025, while the two countries have set a bilateral trade target of $10 billion.
Although ambitious, the target is achievable, he said.
The ambassador identified defence as another important area for expanding bilateral cooperation. He said Malaysia had received or commissioned three littoral mission ships this year and hoped to procure additional vessels in the future.
Malaysia has also received three ANKA unmanned aerial vehicles, which have begun operating in the South China Sea, he said, adding that further defence procurement opportunities were under consideration.
Shaffieq also highlighted tourism as an increasingly important component of bilateral relations.
Approximately 40,000 Turkish tourists visited Malaysia in 2025, he said, noting that the figure had increased compared with the year prior.
