Imran Khan became the Prime Minister of Pakistan in August last year and visited Malaysia in November.

Three months before Imran Khan, 92-year-old Mahathir Mohammad again became the Prime Minister of Malaysia in 2018. Corruption was the biggest issue in Imran and Mahathir's election campaign. Along with this, the debt of China on both the countries was also increasing immensely.

Mahathir is a keen player of politics. He had been in power from 1981 to 2003 before that. At the same time, Imran Khan was the only cricket player before. Mahathir stopped China's $ 22 billion project as soon as he arrived and said that it was absolutely unnecessary.

On the other hand, Imran Khan showed as much disinterest in the $ 60 billion project of China in Pakistan under One Belt One Road as did Nawaz Sharif.

When Emraan Khan arrived in Kuala Lumpur in November 2018, he was welcomed as a rockstar. Imran Khan said that both Malaysia and Pakistan stand on a path.

Imran Khan had said, "Both me and Mahathir have been entrusted with power by the people, being free from corruption." We are both struggling with debt. We can come together and deal with our problems. Mahathir has brought Malaysia on a path of progress. We hope that we will learn from Mahathir's experience. ''

Both are Muslim-majority countries.

This was the beginning of Imran Khan and the close of Malaysia. Imran Khan called Mahathir Mohammad whenever tensions arose in India and Pakistan. It is said that Malaysia was the only country in Imran Khan's initial foreign tour from which Imran Khan did not ask for loan.

During the reign of Mahathir Mohammad, Pakistan came closest to Malaysia. There was an Economic Partnership Agreement between Pakistan and Malaysia in 2007.

During Imran Khan's visit, Mahathir had pledged to help Pakistan in energy security. On 5 August, when India announced the abolition of the special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir, Mahathir was among the heads of nations whom Imran Khan called and sought support and Mahathir supported Imran.

Malaysia was still with Pakistan when the Kashmir issue went to the UN Security Council. Even at the United Nations General Assembly last month, the Malaysian Prime Minister raised the issue of Kashmir and besieged India. For India, it was nothing short of a shock.

Why is Malaysia with Pakistan? "There has been a good relationship between Malaysia and Pakistan for a long time," said Ravichandran Dakshinamurthy, an expert on strategic studies at the National University of Malaysia from the South China Morning Post. After the independence of Malaysia in 1957, Pakistan was among the countries that first recognized it as a sovereign country.

Ravichandran said, "Both Pakistan and Malaysia are associated with many Islamic organizations and cooperation. China's case is completely different with respect to these two. The relations between Malaysia and China are quite normal but the relationship between Pakistan and China is very special. China is the largest arms supplier in Pakistan and the relationship between the two countries is not good. As long as Mahathir Mohammed remained in power, the relationship with Pakistan was good. ''

India is the largest importer of edible oils. Considering India's stand, the Prime Minister of Malaysia said on Sunday that bilateral trade relations with India would be reviewed. He had said that India also exports to Malaysia and the business relationship between the two is bilateral and not one-sided.

India expressed a lot of resentment over Malaysia's stand on Kashmir and now it is being said that trade relations of the two countries may also be affected. Mahathir Mohammed has said that his government will review bilateral relations with India, according to news agency Reuters.

India may limit palm oil imports from Malaysia, according to a Reuters report. With this, India can also reconsider the import of other goods from Malaysia.

Mahathir had said in the UN General Assembly that India has kept Kashmir under its occupation. However, there is no comment on this from the government.

According to Reuters, Indian refiners have stopped buying palm oil from Malaysia for shipment in November and December. According to the agency, they fear that the Indian government may raise import duties. There are fears that the Indian government may take more steps to stop it.

On Monday, five traders told Reuters that they had stopped buying palm oil for shipment in November-December. India has been a big buyer of Malaysia's palm oil.

This attitude of India may affect Malaysia's palm oil industry. According to this report, this decision of India may benefit Indonesia.

Reuters contacted India's Ministry of Commerce in this matter but did not receive any reply. The Mumbai-based businessman told Reuters, "Before doing business with Malaysia, we need clarification. If there is no explanation from the government, then we will start trading from Indonesia." Sandeep Bajoria, CEO of Vegetable Oil Company in Mumbai, said, "Businessmen on both sides are Confused. We do not know what is going to happen? ''

Palm oil accounts for two-thirds of the food oils used in India. India imports 9 million tonnes of palm oil every year. This import is mainly from Malaysia and Indonesia.

In the first nine months of 2019, India imported 3 million tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia. According to the data of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, India's monthly imports from Malaysia are 433,000 tonnes.

As long as Mahathir remained in power, relations with Pakistan have been good. After his retirement in 2003, Malaysia grew close to India. Last year, when there was a surprise return of Mahathir, it again grew close to Pakistan.

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