Malaysia Will Always Be With Me, Says Outgoing Brazilian Ambassador Quintella

By Rohani Mohd Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 (Bernama) --  As his tenure in Malaysia draws to a close, Brazilian Ambassador Ary Norton de Murat Quintella reflects on a period of strengthened diplomatic ties, cultural exchanges, and personal connections.

Relations between Brazil and Malaysia have reached their strongest level since Quintella assumed his post in 2020, just before the COVID-19 Movement Control Order was implemented in the country.

The ambassador regards Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Brazil in November last year as a major milestone in Brazil-Malaysia bilateral ties.

Now, as he prepares to depart on Feb 10, he expressed hope that Brazil and Malaysia will continue to complement each other – much like the KLCC Park harmonising with the Petronas Twin Towers in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. 

Bernama International had the opportunity to speak with the outgoing ambassador at his residence as he prepared for his next posting in Angola.

A Lasting Contribution: His Book on KLCC Park

Reflecting on his time in Malaysia, Quintella considers his book, A Brazilian in Kuala Lumpur: The KLCC Park and Roberto Burle Marx, launched in January last year, as one of his most cherished achievements in Malaysia. 

The book highlights KLCC Park’s significance in Brazil-Malaysia relations, as it was designed by Brazil’s renowned landscape architect, Roberto Burle Marx (1909–1994). 

The project, completed in 1998 after his passing, remains his only work in Asia and possibly his final masterpiece.

According to the ambassador, he always has breakfast on the balcony of his condominium overlooking the park. 

“The park reminds me a lot of Brazil. I enjoy walking there in the evening,” he said.

Quintella also highlighted another of his achievements in Malaysia: the launch of The Brazilian Film Festival in 2023.

The second edition, held last year, offered Malaysian audiences insights into Brazilian society through the silver screen.

Batik and Beryl’s

A frequent wearer of Malaysian batik, the ambassador noted that after five years in Malaysia, he now has a collection of nine batik shirts, some of which were given to him as gifts.

“The Malaysian batik shirt is more comfortable than suits and ties, and the batiks have very beautiful patterns,” added the ambassador, who chose to wear a blue and green batik during this meeting – colours found in the Brazilian flag.

Reflecting on his stay in Malaysia, Quintella admitted to developing a fondness for locally produced Beryl’s chocolates – an indulgence that, he joked, has led to some weight gain.

From Rubber Seeds to Trade

History has long linked Brazil and Malaysia through trade and natural resources.

Responding to whether Brazilians are as familiar with Malaysia as Malaysians are with Brazil, particularly its famed Samba football team during every World Cup season, he said that all Brazilian schoolchildren know about Malaysia. 

All schoolchildren are taught that in 1877, rubber seeds were brought from Brazil to Malaysia by the British.

“It was the first time rubber seeds had been taken out of the Amazon,” Quintella explained.

According to Quintella, Brazil is now Malaysia’s biggest trading partner in South America.

The largest country in South America has a competitive edge in integrated circuit (IC) design.

The most recent, Brazil and Malaysia in December 2024 announced the collaboration in the semiconductor industry that will involve the development of joint initiatives in IC design this year.

Currently, Malaysia is the sixth-largest semiconductor exporter globally, with exports exceeding US$85 billion while Brazil’s semiconductor export value stands at US$1.2 billion as of 2022.

Looking Ahead: BRICS and ASEAN Collaboration

The ambassador expressed optimism that Brazil, which assumes the BRICS presidency this year, and Malaysia, which is chairing ASEAN in 2025 – with Brazil as one of its dialogue partners – will continue to strengthen their diplomatic and cultural ties in the years to come.

Malaysia made it as a partner country into the BRICS alliance in October 2024.

“Malaysia will always be with me,” he said.

Farewell

Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan in his Facebook posting on Quintella’s farewell call recently thanked the ambassador for his excellent service in taking Malaysia-Brazil ties to its highest level. 

Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry, widely known as Wisma Putra, on its website said Malaysia established relations with Brazil in 1959.

In 1981, Malaysia established its embassy in Brasilia, which was the first Malaysian mission in Latin America.

Adeus Mr Ambassador!

-- BERNAMA