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Malaysia

Overview

Singapore and Malaysia have a long-standing, broad and multifaceted relationship. Bilateral trade, investment, and tourism ties are robust. There are regular high-level exchanges such as the Leaders’ Retreat, Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) meetings on Iskandar Malaysia, and Ministerial level visits. Other interactions, including bilateral cultural events, have fostered stronger bonds between our countries.

Recent Highlights

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  • Minister (Foreign Affairs) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan made a working visit to Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur on 30 January 2020.Dr Vivian Balakrishnan had meetings with Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah, Malaysian Minister of Water, Land, and Natural Resources Dato’ Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Malaysian Economic Affairs Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin bin Ali, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke and then-Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
  • Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made a telephone call to Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on 1 March 2020. Prime Minister Lee congratulated Prime Minister Muhyiddin on his appointment as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia. Both sides reaffirmed the substantive and broad-based cooperation shared by Singapore and Malaysia, and looked forward to working together for continued mutual benefit.
  • In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin agreed in a telephone call on 17 March 2020 to establish the Singapore-Malaysia Special Working Committee on COVID-19. The Committee would be co-chaired by Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, and Malaysian Senior Minister and Minister of Defence Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad. The Special Working Committee would propose and coordinate joint mitigation plans to ensure the safe and sustainable movement of people, goods, and services between Malaysia and Singapore.
  • Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean had a telephone call with Malaysian Senior Minister and Minister of Defence Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on 19 March 2020. As the co-chairs of the Singapore-Malaysia Special Working Committee on COVID-19, they discussed coordination of both countries’ arrangements to safeguard the health of the citizens of Singapore and Malaysia, while minimising disruptions to our companies, workers and citizens.
  • Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made a phone call to Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on 24 May 2020 to express his greetings for Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Prime Minister Lee reaffirmed his friendship with Prime Minister Muhyiddin, and his strong support for the close cooperation between both countries.
  • Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke with Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to discuss the gradual and phased resumption of cross-border travel between Singapore and Malaysia on 26 June 2020. Both Prime Ministers agreed that any bilateral arrangement would have to include mutually agreed public health protocols, to preserve the public health and safety of citizens on both sides, while taking into account the medical resources available in both countries. Both sides agreed to establish a Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and a Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) to address the needs of different groups of cross-border travellers.
  • On 12 July 2020, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin called Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to convey his congratulations on the results of the Singapore General Election on 10 July 2020. The Prime Ministers welcomed the steadfast progress that both sides had made in a wide-ranging slate of bilateral initiatives, including cross-border connectivity projects and the movement of people.
  • Minister (Foreign Affairs) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein had a meeting at the Causeway on 26 July 2020. The two Ministers announced that Singapore and Malaysia had agreed on all the key aspects of the RGL and PCA, which would facilitate cross-border travel for official, business and work purposes between Singapore and Malaysia. The RGL and PCA were launched on 10 August 2020.
  • Singapore and Malaysia held a ceremony at the Causeway to mark the official resumption of the Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link Project on 30 July 2020.The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. At the ceremony, Minister (Transport) Ong Ye Kung and Malaysia’s Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong marked the resumption of the Project.
    • Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah and Minister (Foreign Affairs) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan met in Singapore on 8 January 2019 to discuss developments on Malaysia’s establishment of a permanent Restricted Area (RA) over Pasir Gudang and Singapore’s implementation of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedures for Seletar Airport. The Foreign Ministers also agreed to establish a Working Group on maritime issues surrounding the Johor Bahru Port Limits and Singapore Port Limits. The joint press statement of the meeting is here.
    • Minister (Foreign Affairs) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Saifuddin Abdullah met in Putrajaya on 14 March 2019. They agreed to implement the recommendations of the Working Group on the port limits issue. The joint press statement of the meeting is here. During his visit, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan also met Malaysian Minister of Economic Affairs Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin bin Ali and Malaysian Minister of Transport Anthony Loke.
    • Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin made an Official Visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 19 to 20 March 2019. This was Speaker’s first Official Visit overseas. He was accompanied by MPs Vikram Nair, Pritam Singh, Melvin Yong, Yee Chia Hsing, Joan Pereira, Henry Kwek and Saktiandi Supaat, and NMP Anthea Ong. Speaker called on Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Legal and Parliamentary Affairs) Liew Vui Keong, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat Dato’ Mohamad Ariff bin Md Yusoff, and President of the Dewan Negara SA Vigneswaran. The delegation also met Deputy Speakers of the Dewan Rakyat Nga Kor Ming and Rashid Hasnon, as well as several Malaysian MPs.
    • Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad met in Putrajaya, Malaysia for the 9th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat on 9 April 2019. Prime Minister Lee was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean; Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan; Minister (Foreign Affairs) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan; Minister (Communications and Information) S Iswaran; Minister (Finance) Heng Swee Keat; Minister (Culture, Community and Youth) Grace Fu; Minister (Trade and Industry) Chan Chun Sing; Minister (National Development) and Second Minister (Finance) Lawrence Wong; and Minister (Environment and Water Resources) Masagos Zulkifli. This was Singapore’s first Retreat with the new Pakatan Harapan government. The joint press statement of the meeting is here.
    • Deputy Prime Minister and Minister (Finance) Heng Swee Keat, Minister (Foreign Affairs) Dr Vivian Balakrishan, and their spouses attended the Hari Raya Open House hosted by the Sultan of Johor, His Royal Highness Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, on 5 June 2019 at the Istana Bukit Serene, Johor Bahru.
    • Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his spouse, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, along with the leaders of Indonesia and Brunei, attended the Bicentennial edition of Singapore’s National Day Parade on 9 August 2019 at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Siti Hasmah also met Prime Minister Lee and Mrs Lee at the National Gallery prior to the start of the Parade.
    • Minister (Foreign Affairs) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan visited Kedah and Penang from 29 to 30 August 2019. In Kedah, he had an audience with the Sultan of Kedah, His Royal Highness Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah. At the audience, he also met the Raja Muda of Kedah Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah Ibni Sultan Sallehuddin, Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir, and the Tunku Laksamana of Kedah Tunku Shazuddin Ariff Ibni Sultan Sallehuddin. In Penang, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan called on the Governor of Penang Dr Abdul Rahman Abbas, and met and was hosted to lunch by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. He was also hosted by Malaysian MP Nurul Izzah Anwar to a tour of her constituency, followed by dinner. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan also hosted tea for several State Executive Council members in both states.
    • Minister (Foreign Affairs) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan visited Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, and Terengganu from 1 to 3 October 2019. In Negeri Sembilan, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan had an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir. At the audience, he also met the Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin Ibni Tuanku Muhriz. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan also met Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, UMNO Deputy President Mohamad Hasan, and Malaysian MP Khairy Jamaluddin. In Pahang, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan had an audience with the Tengku Muda Pahang Tengku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah. He was also hosted to lunch by Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy bin Wan Ismail, and to dinner by Pahang State Secretary Dr Sallehuddin Ishak. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan also met Pakatan Harapan Pahang State Assemblypersons and MPs, as well as UMNO Vice President Ismail Sabri. In Terengganu, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan met Terengganu Menteri Besar Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan also met several State Executive Council members in all three states.
    • Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak met in Singapore for the 8th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat from 15 to 16 January. They witnessed the signing of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link Bilateral Agreement and attended the official opening of DUO and Marina One, two integrated development projects developed by M+S Pte Ltd, a Joint Venture between Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited and Khazanah Nasional Berhad.
    • Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited Putrajaya on 19 May. During the visit, Prime Minister Lee met Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and current PKR President Anwar Ibrahim.
    • Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Saifuddin Abdullah made his Introductory Visit to Singapore from 30 to 31 July. During the visit, Minister Saifuddin called on President Halimah Yacob, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean. He was also hosted to lunch by Minister (Foreign Affairs) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.
    • Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean visited Kuala Lumpur, Sabah and Sarawak from 4 to 9 September. DPM Teo called on Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Alongside PM Mahathir and DPM Wan Azizah, DPM Teo witnessed the signing of an agreement to suspend the construction of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail Project up to 31 May 2020. In Sarawak and Sabah, DPM Teo met Governor of Sarawak Taib Mahmud, Governor of Sabah Juhar Mahiruddin, Chief Minister of Sarawak Abang Johari and Chief Minister of Sabah Shafie Apdal.
    • President Halimah Yacob visited Kuala Lumpur from 18 to 19 September. At the invitation of Universiti Malaya (UM) Chancellor and Sultan of Perak Nazrin Shah, and in her capacity as National University of Singapore (NUS) Chancellor, President officiated the annual UM-NUS golf tournament. During the visit, President Halimah was also hosted to tea by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.
    • Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad made an Official Visit to Singapore from 12 to 13 November. During the visit, Prime Minister Mahathir called on President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and was also hosted to lunch by Prime Minister Lee and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. He was also conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by his alma mater, the National University of Singapore. An orchid, the Dendrobium Mahathir Siti Hasmah, was named after Prime Minister Mahathir and his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah in 2019.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for conducting and managing diplomatic relations between Singapore and other countries and regions.

© 2024 Government of SingaporeLast updated 04 April 2024

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