Mohamad Al As

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has described the upcoming historic friendly match between the Asean All-Stars team and English Premier League giants Manchester United at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, on May 28 as a symbol of regional solidarity and aspiration.

The prime minister said the Asean All-Stars team, led by a coach from Vietnam, would not only showcase physical prowess but also serve as a symbol of unity.

"Although Vietnam's Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, will not be able to attend, I am trying to persuade him to come because this match holds great significance.

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"It represents the Asean spirit against Manchester United, which is not an easy task, but it reflects our regional confidence and cooperation," Anwar said during a joint press conference with Chinh, who is on an official visit to Malaysia.

Anwar also playfully teased Chinh about the upcoming football match between Malaysia and Vietnam on June 10.

"I have already informed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, don't be too confident, because this time we are truly ready.

"Vietnam is indeed a great team, but we have the spirit and resilience to put up a fight.

"If we (Malaysia) win, I will call him, but if we lose, I'll go straight to sleep," he said, drawing laughter from Chinh.

Earlier, Anwar and Chinh witnessed the exchange of three documents aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of energy, education, and regional integration.

The documents included a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and Vietnam Electricity (EVN) on the Asean Power Grid and strategic capacity development; a Letter of Intent for cooperation between Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City; and a Letter of Note between UKM and Vietnam National University, Hanoi, focusing on strategic collaboration and Asean integration between Malaysia and Vietnam.