Malaysia, Bahrain strengthen security cooperation as Sepang F1 race nears

KUALA LUMPUR, September 27 — Malaysia and Bahrain met to discuss bolstering security cooperation, addressing transnational threats, terrorism, extremism, intelligence sharing, drug enforcement, and border management. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Bahrain’s Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid Abdulla Al Khalifa, engaged in a bilateral discussion during the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The meeting reflected their shared values, mutual respect, and commitment to peace. Saifuddin expressed pride in welcoming Bahrain and the international motorsports community to Malaysia for the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, set to take place at the Sepang International Circuit from October 2 to 4, 2026. To ensure the safe and successful execution of the event, around 700 security personnel and traffic management experts will be deployed, alongside a dedicated immigration lane at the airport for team crews and accredited attendees.

The discussions also touched upon the progress of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Transnational Crime, which both nations are working towards formalizing for long-term security cooperation. Saifuddin expressed hope that this partnership would endure at the technical level, yielding concrete security benefits for both countries.