Malaysia–Timor-Leste relations

East Timor–Malaysia relations or Malaysia–Timor-Leste relations are foreign relations between Malaysia and East Timor. Malaysia has an embassy in Dili,^[1] and East Timor has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur.^[2] Malaysia is supporting East Timor to be one of the members of ASEAN and towards becoming a democratic country.^[3]

Malaysia–Timor-Leste relations

Malaysia	Timor-Leste

History

East Timor Foreign Minister Dionísio Babo visits his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah in Kuala Lumpur, 2019.

Since 1999, Malaysia has contributed to many UN peacekeeping missions on the country, such as one are the Operation Astute during the 2006 East Timorese crisis.^[3] Malaysia also has provided assistance to Timor-Leste in the area of human resources development through various training programmes and providing assistance to East Timor in its nation building efforts.^[3] Currently, Malaysia has been consider by East Timorese as a model to develop their countries.^[4][5][6]

Economic relations

Malaysian embassy in Dili, East Timor.

Both countries are currently working together to expand the scope of co-operation and currently tangible signs of a Malaysian present on East Timor can be seen in the form of restaurants, a school teaching English and the supply of construction materials and spare parts for vehicles.^[7][8] In 2014, a memorandum of understanding on cooperative development and co-operation signed between the University of Malaysia Sabah and the National University of East Timor, a day before an MoU on healthcare been signed.^[9][10] The total trade between the two countries has increased from U$10 million in 2012 to U$21.2 million in 2013 and the East Timorese government has expressed their interest to work with the Malaysian counterparts in oil and gas sectors.^[11][12]

Diplomatic Relations

Malaysia recognized Timor-Leste immediately after its independence in 2002. The two nations established formal diplomatic ties in 2006 when Malaysia opened its embassy in Dili, followed by Timor-Leste's embassy in Kuala Lumpur in 2010.

List of Ambassadors Malaysian Ambassadors to Timor-Leste

Name	Tenure	Key Activities	Sources
Zainal Abidin Mohamed Zain	2006–2009	Established Malaysia's first embassy in Dili	The Star (2006)
Yahaya Abdul Jabar	2009–2013	Negotiated labor agreements for Timorese workers	Wisma Putra (2009)
Zainal Abidin Bakar	2013–2017	Promoted Malaysian infrastructure investments	Borneo Post (2014)
Izanee Che Ishak	2017–2021	Focused on education and palm oil trade	Bernama (2017)
Mohd Khalid Abbasi Abdul Razak	2021–present	Supports Timor-Leste's ASEAN membership bid	New Straits Times (2021)

Timorese Ambassadors to Malaysia

Name	Tenure	Key Activities	Sources
Joaquim da Fonseca	2010–2014	First resident ambassador in KL	Timor Post (2010)
Filomeno Aleixo da Cruz	2014–2018	Advocated for migrant worker rights	Suara Timor Lorosae (2014)
Joaquim Lopes da Fonseca	2018–2022	Expanded trade relations	Tatoli (2018)
Marciano da Silva	2022–present	Focuses on education partnerships	Dili Weekly (2022)