Malaysia, Bahrain strengthen security cooperation as Sepang F1 race nears

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 — Malaysia and Bahrain have bolstered their security cooperation as the Sepang F1 race approaches, discussing various matters during a bilateral meeting. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Bahrain’s Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid Abdulla Al Khalifa met in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on the sidelines of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

Topics covered included terrorism and extremism, intelligence sharing, drug enforcement, border management, and security to combat transnational threats. The meeting also highlighted the upcoming Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled from Oct 2 to 4, 2026, at the Sepang International Circuit. Malaysia expressed honor in welcoming Bahrain and the international motorsports community to Sepang, emphasizing that the event aims to strengthen the bond between the people of both nations.

To ensure a safe, smooth, and welcoming environment for the Grand Prix, around 700 security and traffic management personnel will be deployed. A dedicated immigration lane at the airport will cater to team crews and accredited personnel, while visa arrangements will be facilitated for foreign attendees. The meeting briefly touched on the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Transnational Crime, currently under process between Malaysia and Bahrain, as part of efforts to establish long-term security cooperation.