Today the first deputy chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, the rector of the Moscow Islamic Institute Damir Mukhetdinov and the head of the Board of Trustees of the MII Abdul-Vahed Niyazov, met Anwar Ibrahim, leader of the Pakatan Harapan ("Alliance of Hope") coalition in Malaysia.

At the meeting, Damir Mukhetdinov and Abdul-Wahed Niyazov spoke to Anwar Ibrahim about Islam in Russia, its history and development. They paid special attention to establishing relations between the state and religious organizations, as well as the dialogue with representatives of religions.

The members of the delegation also touched upon the education and activities of Muslim religious organizations, development of Islamic infrastructure, issues related to countering and preventing radicalism and terrorism, and bilateral cooperation and cooperation between the Muslims of Russia and Malaysia.

On behalf of the head of Russian Muslims, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, the delegates invited  the leader of the Pakatan Harapan Coalition to visit Russia in order to find out about  the life of Russian Muslims, the activities of the Russia Muftis Council and to visit educational centers.

Anwar Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician, leader of the Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition. In 1983 he was appointed as the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, in 1984 – the Minister of Agriculture, in 1986-1990 - the Minister of Education. In 1990 he became the Minister of Finance, and from 1993 to 1998 he held the position of the Deputy Prime Minister.