The relations between the two countries can be traced back during the Malay sultanate era and the Ottoman Empire. From 19th century, relations between the Malay Sultanates and the Ottomans remained intact, bolstered by close personal ties between Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor, who made several visits to Istanbul. On the occasion of Sultan Abu Bakar's visit in 1890, he and his brother, Engku Abdul Majid, married Turkish women. These marriages has further strengthened the bilateral relationship and produced a mixed Malay-Turkish descendants such as Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, Ungku Aziz and Tun Hussein Onn. Today, the modern relations of both countries has started since 1964. Prime Minister Najib Razak visited Turkey on 17 April 2014 to extend bilateral trades between the two countries and signed FTA. Some economic agreements has been establish between the two countries such as Strategic Framework Agreement and Free Trade Agreement. Beside that, the visa requirements for both countries visits also has been abolished.
Economic relations
Both countries also currently forging greater co-operation in trade and investment especially linkages in the Islamic financial industry between the two markets. Turkey also currently looking on Malaysia to become one of its trading partner in the ASEAN region. In 2019, as part of the plan to improve ties with Asian nations, Turkey plans to boost its investment in Malaysia where the latter also have been considered as among 17 countries under focus for exports as had been expressed by Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan in August.
Security relations
The Turkish defence industry company has signed several accords with Malaysian partner which worth around $600 million deal for armoured vehicles production. The other Turkish firms also has signed deals with Malaysian partners to modernise the Malaysian military systems. On 12 May 2017, Malaysia deported three Turkish suspects over their alleged involvement with the Gülen movement, an organisation which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the Turkish government. Following this, the Malaysian government was accused by the Stockholm Center for Freedom for enabling the persecution of government critics of the administration under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by unlawfully turning over Turkish nationals who fled from the crackdown launched by their President under the request of their government. Deputy Prime Minister of MalaysiaAhmad Zahid Hamidi denied the detention was based on order from the Turkish government, while explaining that the arrests were made after receiving information from the Counter-Messaging Centre in relation to their involvement in an organisation that deemed illegal in their country.
