MFA Press Statement: Visit by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing to Negara Brunei Darussalam, 14 to 16 July 2016

                    Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing will be visiting Negara Brunei Darussalam from 14 to 16 July 2016 as the Singapore Government’s representatives to the 70th birthday celebrations of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam.  DPM Teo will also be accompanied by Mrs Teo Chee Hean and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  DPM Teo and Minister Chan will attend the Royal Guard of Honour Ceremony and Investiture Ceremony in the morning of 15 July, as well as a Royal Banquet in the evening.     

                    President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, DPM Teo, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan have written to congratulate the Sultan on the occasion of his 70th birthday.  The text of the letters is appended.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

12 JULY 2016

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Letter from President to the Sultan

12 July 2016

His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah

Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam

Istana Nurul Iman

Bandar Seri Begawan

Negara Brunei Darussalam

Your Majesty,

                I would like to convey my warmest wishes on the joyous occasion of Your Majesty’s 70th birthday. 

                Brunei has enjoyed peace and prosperity under Your Majesty’s judicious and enlightened leadership.  Singapore and Brunei share excellent bilateral relations because of the close personal ties Your Majesty has with Singapore leaders.  I am confident that Brunei will continue to enjoy sustained progress and success under Your Majesty’s guidance and vision.

                My wife and I enjoyed our conversation with Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Raja Isteri over tea in March this year.  We were glad to hear that Your Majesty’s family members are doing well.  We wish Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Raja Isteri continued good health and success.

Yours sincerely,

TONY TAN KENG YAM

Letter from PM to the Sultan

12 July 2016

Your Majesty,

                Ho Ching and I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of Your Majesty’s 70th birthday. It is an historic moment for all Bruneians to celebrate. 

                Under Your Majesty’s vision and guidance, Bruneians from all walks of life enjoy peace and prosperity.  They are united by strong familial and communal ties, and live in harmony.  I am confident that Brunei will continue to flourish under Your Majesty’s wise leadership.

                Our bilateral relations are excellent.  We have made significant advances in bilateral cooperation over the years, and continue to work in close partnership in ASEAN.  We are also working together to ensure that our younger generation continues building on the strong foundations laid by His Majesty the late Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien III and the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. 

                Ho Ching and I were most honoured to host Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Raja Isteri to dinner in March and we look forward to meeting again soon.  We wish Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Raja Isteri continued good health and happiness.

Yours sincerely,

Lee Hsien Loong

His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah

Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam

Istana Nurul Iman

Bandar Seri Begawan

Negara Brunei Darussalam

Letter from DPM Teo to the Sultan

12 July 2016

His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah

Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam

Bandar Seri Begawan

Negara Brunei Darussalam

Your Majesty,

                I would like to convey my sincere wishes on the happy and auspicious occasion of Your Majesty’s 70th birthday.

                Singapore has a solid and longstanding bilateral relationship with Brunei.  Our defence and monetary relations, in particular, have been a bastion of our two countries’ close and enduring partnership.  The strong personal ties between generations of our leaders have also enhanced bilateral relations. 

                I greatly enjoyed my visit to Brunei in October last year when I brought along several of my younger colleagues for the Young Leaders’ Programme.  I had the privilege to have an audience with Your Majesty, and to meet His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah and my many Bruneian friends.  I look forward to reciprocating Brunei’s hospitality when His Royal Highness Crown Prince Billah visits Singapore in October this year.

                My wife Poh Yim and I also look forward to personally conveying our birthday congratulations to Your Majesty when we attend the celebrations in Brunei this year on 15 July.  We also wish Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Raja Isteri continued good health and much happiness.

Yours sincerely,

TEO CHEE HEAN

Letter from ESM to the Sultan

12 July 2016

His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah

Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam

Istana Nurul Iman

Bandar Seri Begawan

Negara Brunei Darussalam

Your Majesty

I would like to extend my warmest wishes on the special occasion of Your Majesty’s 70th birthday.

          Brunei and Singapore are steadfast friends.  We have supported each other in many ways over the years, and are constantly seeking out new avenues for cooperation to deepen our friendship.  I trust that our countries will keep up the spirit of cooperation and scale new heights together.

          My wife and I wish Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Raja Isteri good health and happiness.

Yours respectfully

GOH CHOK TONG

Letter from Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Sultan

12 July 2016

His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah

Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam

Istana Nurul Iman

Bandar Seri Begawan

Negara Brunei Darussalam

Your Majesty

I would like to convey my heartfelt congratulations on the momentous occasion of Your Majesty’s 70th birthday.

Singapore and Brunei have a shared strategic outlook and many common interests.  Since our establishment of diplomatic relations in 1984, we have built on these commonalities.  The special friendship between our countries has remained steadfast in the face of regional and global challenges over the decades.

I am confident that under Your Majesty’s wise and able guidance, Brunei will continue to be a beacon of stability and peace in the region.

I wish Your Majesty continued good health and happiness.

Yours sincerely,

DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN