SINGAPORE – Beyond economic cooperation, Singapore and Malaysia have a shared cultural heritage that should be celebrated and renewed by the next generation, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
At a state banquet he hosted for Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, on May 6, President Tharman said the two countries can jointly raise relations to the next level of cooperation and friendship with the King’s strong support and leadership.
The King is in Singapore for a two-day state visit with his wife, Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah, till May 7. The state visit is one of the last major visits before Singapore’s leadership transition on May 15, when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will hand over his position to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
In his toast speech at the Istana, President Tharman noted how the two countries agreed in 2023 to strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, as well as in emerging fields such as the green economy and payments.
Through the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, both sides are also exploring ways to enhance cross-border connectivity and cooperation in renewable energy for mutual benefit, he said.
The King said in his speech that the relationship between Malaysia and Singapore is special as both countries share a common history and culture, as well as close economic ties.
He recounted how he had learnt much about the affairs of state from founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, whom he knew personally.
“One of the things he shared with me was the need to be consistent in policy – only through consistency would we be able to get long-term investors, which is critical for economic growth,” said the King.
He expressed his thanks to PM Lee, whom he called a close friend of Johor and Malaysia.
“His dedication and foresight have steered Singapore towards closer cooperation and building a better future,” said the King, who also congratulated DPM Wong on his upcoming succession.
In a Facebook post, PM Lee said May 6 was special as it was this day in 2022 that Sultan Ibrahim had conferred on him the title of Dato’ Sri Paduka Mahkota Johor, which is Johor’s highest state honour.
The two neighbours share a close friendship that is underpinned by historical ties and strong relationships between our governments and businesses, he added.
