Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday congratulated Chandrasekar Joseph Vijay on becoming the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, while highlighting the long-standing cultural and historical ties between Malaysia and the south Indian state.
Vijay’s victory came after the closely watched Lok Sabha elections in which his Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam party campaigned on promises of anti-corruption, youth mobilization and political change. The election marked the actor’s official transition from movie star to full-time politician, with his campaign drawing strong support from young and first-time voters.
In a post on X, Ibrahim spoke about Vijay’s popularity as an actor, saying that for years fans have watched him defeat corrupt politicians and villains on screen within “three hours, usually after a short period”. He added that the people of Tamil Nadu have now entrusted Vijay with “a responsibility far greater than any role he plays on screen”.
Congratulating his “friend” on the electoral victory, Ibrahim referred to Vijay’s political slogan “Oru Viral Puratchi” or “One Finger Revolution” and said it was now “on the cusp of making history”.
The Malaysian Prime Minister also stressed the deep people-to-people ties that Malaysia and Tamil Nadu share across generations, adding that he looked forward to working closely with Vijay in the coming years.
The 51-year-old actor-turned-politician took oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday.
