Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently attended the 2024 G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he engaged with global leaders, including a notable first meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
What truly caught the attention of Malaysians, however, was Macron’s gesture on social media following their encounter. Taking to his official Twitter account, the French President shared two posts about the meeting—one in French and the other, to everyone’s surprise, in Bahasa Melayu.
Accompanied by a photo of the leaders shaking hands, Macron’s Bahasa Melayu post read: "With the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the ASEAN chairman. This first meeting will allow us to strengthen the relationship between our countries, especially in the field of energy transition, which is one of our common priorities."
Malaysians were quick to react, filling the replies with a mix of humour and admiration for Macron’s effort to use the national language.
One commenter extended an invitation for Macron to visit Malaysia, noting that it has been since 2017 that a French President last stepped foot in the country.
Another enthusiastically suggested that Macron “lepak” in Kuala Lumpur over a breakfast of nasi lemak, while someone else cheekily dubbed him “Mat Cron” and asked when he had picked up Bahasa Melayu.
Perhaps the most striking reaction came from a commenter who expressed amazement that the post was genuinely written in Bahasa Melayu, rather than being an auto-translation, celebrating the language’s recognition on the global stage.
Macron’s thoughtful gesture not only charmed Malaysians but also highlighted the growing importance of strengthening cultural ties alongside diplomatic efforts.
