KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said “it’s okay to break the rule” after United States President Donald Trump unexpectedly invited him for a ride in the presidential limousine to the Asean Summit venue at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre here.

Anwar said he had initially declined the offer, citing security protocols.

“We admire your tenacity and courage because the world needs leaders who promote peace strongly and to achieve that you have to break some rules as you did today,” he said during the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord between Thailand and Cambodia at the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits here.

Anwar was thanking Trump for helping with the peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia.

“And he was delighted to break the rules. It was a nice ride,” he added, referring to the short ride in the presidential limousine known globally as “The Beast”.

Anwar also said during the ride, he spoke with Trump about other issues, including securing peace in Gaza and other parts of the world.

Both leaders later held a bilateral meeting after witnessing the signing of a joint declaration on a peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia.

Today’s visit marks Trump’s first visit to South-east Asia since retaking office as the 47th President of the US in January 2025.

Trump is the third US president in history to visit Malaysia after Lyndon B Johnson in 1966 and Barack Obama in 2014 and 2015.