KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore and Malaysia, as founding members of Asean and like-minded partners, must help the region remain united and credible, says Singapore President Halimah Yacob.
She said this was crucial because the external environment was becoming increasingly volatile and challenging – with major power rivalries sharpening, the global economic outlook remaining uncertain due to the war in Ukraine and the long aftershocks of Covid-19.
“Without a stable external environment, all of us in Asean will find it harder to transform our economies and improve the lives of our peoples.
“I am confident that Singapore and Malaysia can work together to advance both our separate national, as well as Asean’s, interests,” she said.
Halimah said this in her speech at the state banquet hosted by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara here yesterday.
Also present was Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
Halimah said that over the past three years, Singapore and Malaysia had stood shoulder-to-shoulder to tackle Covid-19, a once-in-a-generation test.
“I am happy to note that next month marks the first anniversary of the reopening of our borders since the pandemic.
“Both air and land traffic between our two countries has been steadily returning to pre-pandemic levels.
“I am heartened that since our borders fully reopened to each other in April 2022, there have been slightly more than one million Singaporeans who travel to Malaysia each month just via our land checkpoints,” she said.
When the much-awaited Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS) is completed by 2026, Halimah expressed her confidence that the connectivity between the two already-close neighbours would be further strengthened.
Halimah said there was much scope to expand cooperation into new and exciting areas for mutual benefit, and what the two nations could achieve together was only limited by both countries’ imagination and political will.
Earlier, Halimah was accorded a state welcome at Istana Negara in conjunction with her maiden three-day visit to Malaysia, which began on Monday.
The visit was made at the invitation of Sultan Abdullah, who had visited Singapore in October 2022.
Upon her arrival at the palace at 11am yesterday, Halimah and her husband, Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, were greeted by their Majesties.
Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Cabinet Ministers.
The welcoming ceremony at the parade ground began with the singing of the Singapore and Malaysia national anthems by the Royal Malaysian Air Force central band, followed by a 21-gun salute.
Halimah then inspected a guard of honour mounted by four officers and 103 rank-and-file personnel of the First Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment from Wardieburn Camp in Setapak here, under the command of Mejar Mohd Fadjrin Masor @ Mansor.
Halimah and Sultan Abdullah then jointly planted a gelam tree (Melaleuca cajuputi) in the palace compound before attending a state luncheon.Last year, Singapore was Malaysia’s second largest global trading partner and the largest among Asean countries, with total trade amounting to US$83.53bil (RM373bil) – an increase of 29.4% compared to the recorded value in 2021. — Bernama
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
