Malaysia Marks National Day, Malaysia Day in South Africa
18 September 2026
Malaysia’s 69th National Day and 63rd Malaysia Day were celebrated in Pretoria on 15 September with a reception highlighting growing Malaysia-South Africa ties alongside the country’s rich culture and heritage.
Hosted by the High Commission of Malaysia, the event drew about 200 guests, including representatives of the South African government, diplomatic corps, Friends of Malaysia and Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) alumni from South Africa and Botswana.
Malaysia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Datuk Yubazlan Yusof said bilateral relations continued to gain momentum following high-level engagements in 2025.
He said bilateral trade reached about US$1.33 billion in 2025, with further opportunities in trade and investment, maritime connectivity, defence, the halal economy, green technology and innovation.
Yubazlan also highlighted the importance of people-to-people ties, noting that more than 250 South Africans have participated in MTCP training and capacity-building programmes over the years.
He encouraged greater two-way tourism during Visit Malaysia Year 2026–2027 and underscored the importance of restoring direct commercial air links between Kuala Lumpur and Johannesburg to strengthen business, tourism and institutional connections.
Representing the South African government, Acting Deputy Director-General for Asia and the Middle East at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Ambassador Dave Malcomson, who was previously posted to Malaysia, congratulated Malaysia on its national celebrations.
He said Malaysia-South Africa relations were strengthened by historical and cultural connections, as well as shared commitments to multilateralism, social justice and Global South cooperation.
Held under the theme “Malaysia MADANI: Shared Prosperity”, the reception also showcased Malaysian culture and hospitality, with young Malaysians performing the patriotic song “Saya Anak Malaysia”, followed by a silat performance by High Commission staff.
Guests also sampled traditional Malaysian desserts prepared by PERWAKILAN Pretoria and enjoyed a teh tarik demonstration.
The celebration reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to deepening ties with South Africa in trade, investment, technical cooperation, education, tourism, culture and people-to-people exchanges.
High Commission of Malaysia in Pretoria, South Africa