India today sought to forge closer partnership with Malaysia by inviting its national oil firm Petronas to join IOC in developing one of the phases of the gigantic South Pars gas field in Iran, and an LNG import terminal at Ennore in Tamil Nadu.The government has also sought partnership with Malaysia in bidding forthe Sakhlain-3 oil and gas fields in Russia while seeking to get on board in an oil block in Sudan."I have suggested that Indian and Malaysian companies can go together in the field of hydrocarbons in third countries," petroleum minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said after a meeting with visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.Aiyar has sought joint operatorship of oil blocks 5a and 5b in Sudan where ONGC Videsh and Petronas are partners, and wanted the Indian company to be accommodated on the Petronas-controlled block 8."There are indications that block 12 in Sudan may be given to us. If a package of understanding is developed, we would like Petronas to join us in block 12," Aiyar said.