KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday that he held a call with billionaire Elon Musk to discuss automaker Tesla’s investment in the country and SpaceX’s satellite communications service.

“I welcome the company’s interest and decision to invest in Malaysia, and Elon Musk’s willingness to come to Malaysia,” Datuk Seri Anwar said in a statement after a 25-minute virtual meeting with the Tesla chief executive officer.

The meeting was also attended by SpaceX senior director Lauren Dreyer, Malaysia’s trade minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, and communications minister Fahmi Fadzil.

Earlier in 2023, Malaysia approved electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla’s application to import battery-run EVs into Malaysia.

The trade ministry had said Tesla will open an office, showrooms and service centres in the South-east Asian country and establish a network of charging stations for its cars.

Mr Anwar said Tesla’s operations in Malaysia will begin in 2023, with the EV giant’s head office to be set up in Selangor.

The two also discussed Starlink, the satellite communications service started by Mr Musk and operated by his company SpaceX, the Premier said, adding that the initiative could improve the well-being of Malaysians in the areas of education and agricultural technology.

Starlink provides satellite Internet access coverage to more than 50 countries, and is particularly helpful for rural or geographically isolated areas where Internet connectivity is less reliable. REUTERS