State Visit by President Halimah Yacob to Malaysia, 20 to 22 March 2023

President Halimah Yacob concluded her State Visit to Malaysia today. The visit reaffirmed the warm and multifaceted relationship between Singapore and Malaysia, and signalled the commitment of both countries to deepen their longstanding economic, cultural, educational, and people-to-people linkages.

During President Halimah’s call on His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah, they reaffirmed the enduring friendship between Singapore and Malaysia, as well as the positive trajectory of bilateral cooperation across trade, tourism, digital and green economies, cybersecurity, and education. They welcomed the three Government-to-Government agreements signed during Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Official Visit to Singapore in January 2023 and the substantive collaboration between the institutes of higher learning of both countries in the areas of technical and vocational education and training, Malay language and heritage, student exchanges, and research. President Halimah and His Majesty agreed that it was important to strengthen linkages at all levels to advance bilateral cooperation for mutual benefit.

During her State Visit, President Halimah engaged a wide range of Malaysian personalities and reiterated Singapore’s commitment to work closely with Malaysia constructively and pragmatically in existing and emerging areas of shared interest. She received a call from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, met the Sultan of Perak and Chancellor of the University of Malaya His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Muizzudin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfur-Lah, and engaged with four female Malaysian leaders from across the political spectrum. She also had separate engagements with Singaporean and Malaysian business leaders and the Overseas Singapore community. During these various meetings, President Halimah emphasised that both countries enjoy a high level of mutual trust built up over many years and should continue working together both bilaterally as well as within ASEAN. During her visit to the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia hosted by Her Majesty the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Almarhum Al-Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj, President Halimah highlighted the importance of ensuring that the younger generation of both countries continue to develop close people-to-people ties and deepen mutual understanding.

President Halimah’s State Visit was an excellent opportunity for both sides to take stock of bilateral cooperation and renew the commitment to expand cooperation in a variety of fields to improve the lives of both our peoples amid an increasingly uncertain and challenging external environment.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

22 MARCH 2023