Charting success through close ties

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim believes his personal ties with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah will help expedite the implementation of the various plans and programmes involving Malaysia and Brunei.

“When two country leaders have a very strong friendship and have plans for both countries, they can always check on the progress, and the implementation will be expedited.

“His Majesty has been watching and following our development (in Malaysia).

“Friendship is important, and ours has been good and personal.

“Whenever I’m in distress, His Majesty always shows concern,” he told the Malaysian media at the end of his two-day official visit to Brunei yesterday.

Anwar said their strong bond was prominently visible during the visit.

“I can feel something special there. His Majesty also knows that our strong personal and family ties will help strengthen the bilateral ties between our two countries,” he said.

Bonding over developments: Anwar delivering his speech at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei. Seated next to him is Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.— Bernama

Earlier today, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah granted an audience to Anwar at Istana Nurul Iman, where they also had a four-eye meeting.

The Prime Minister and the Sultan also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA).

Bernama reported Anwar saying success stories created and made possible by the existing relationship between the two countries proved that the strength of their bilateral ties is at the top level.

He said various matters were discussed during the four-eye meeting, such as the efforts to intensify border development and increase investments.

“These are for the people. The businesses and the investments are important. His Majesty wants the cooperation with the BIA to be expedited so we can explore more investment opportunities.

“His Majesty also emphasises the possibility of expediting issues related to oil exploration, involving Petronas if necessary, for the areas to be developed by the Joint Development Authority,” he said.

The Prime Minister said in Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara, it is hoped there will be a synergy of Malaysia’s interests, especially on the borders of Sabah and Sarawak.

He added that this involved additional allocations, tourism traffic, the movement of three countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei) and the Sarawak government’s incentive to continue the land route,” he said.

Anwar also said Sabah and Sarawak raised the role of Bandar Seri Begawan as a global aviation centre and hoped to increase flights to Bandar Seri Begawan as a hub for the sub-region.

Meanwhile, Anwar held a meeting and attended a dinner with the Malaysian diaspora on Tuesday night at the Malaysian High Commission here.

The Prime Minister took the opportunity to outline the nation’s path forward, including the Malaysia Madani concept, which he introduced on Jan 19 to improve the dignity of the people and the country on the global stage.

The gathering was attended by some 400 people, with whom Anwar also held a dialogue session.