MFA Press Statement: Visit by SMS Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman to Medan and Batam, Indonesia, 2 to 3 August 2016

        Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Defence and Foreign Affairs Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman visited Medan in North Sumatra province on 2 August 2016, and Batam in Riau Islands (KEPRI) province on 3 August 2016.  This is SMS Maliki’s first visit to Medan and Batam as Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs.

        In Medan, SMS Maliki met North Sumatra Governor Tengku Erry Nuradi and Medan Mayor Dzulmi Eldin.  During the meetings, they welcomed the expanding business and people-to-people interactions between North Sumatra and Singapore.  They also had wide-ranging discussions on ways to expand cooperation between Singapore and North Sumatra.  SMS Maliki met members of the Medan business community, who updated SMS Maliki on opportunities for collaboration with Singapore companies.

        In Batam, SMS Maliki had meetings with KEPRI Governor Nurdin Basirun, and Batam Mayor Muhammad Rudi, during which they reaffirmed the longstanding relationship between Singapore and KEPRI.  SMS Maliki also reiterated Singapore’s support for KEPRI’s continued economic development and highlighted the importance of having a predictable and stable business environment to attract investors.  SMS Maliki had lunch with the Singaporean community in Batam, and visited Batamindo Industrial Park and SembCorp Marine Offshore Engineering.

        SMS Maliki was the Guest of Honour at the Singapore National Day Receptions hosted by the Singapore Consulates in Medan and in Batam on 2 August 2016 and 3 August 2016 respectively.  The Receptions were attended by local dignitaries, officials and the Singaporean community.  The full texts of SMS Maliki’s speeches at the receptions are attached.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

3 AUGUST 2016

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SPEECH BY SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DR MOHAMAD MALIKI OSMAN AT THE SINGAPORE CONSULATE IN MEDAN’S NATIONAL DAY RECEPTION, TUESDAY, 2 AUGUST 2016

Your Excellency,

Bapak Binsar Situmorang, Assistant of Economy for Regional Secretary of North Sumatra,

My fellow Singaporeans,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

        I am delighted to be here to celebrate Singapore’s 51^st National Day with you. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Bapak Tengku Erry Nuradi, who sends his regrets for not being here tonight, on his recent inauguration as Governor of North Sumatra. 

2        This is my first time here as Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and I am immensely grateful for the warm hospitality I have received throughout this visit. Earlier today, I had the pleasure of meeting with Governor Tengku Erry and Medan Mayor Dzulmi Eldin. We had fruitful discussions on a broad range of issues, and shared ideas about how to further strengthen cooperation between Singapore and North Sumatra.

3         The relationship between Singapore and North Sumatra goes far back in history. There were trade links and people-to-people movements between Sumatra and Singapore centuries before the establishment of the modern states of Indonesia and Singapore. Our economic relations remain robust today. Singapore is North Sumatra’s top foreign investor with investments totalling at $ 4.8 trillion rupiah (or US$ 360 million) for the first three quarters of 2015. Today, there are more than 110 Singapore-related companies operating in Medan. For example, a long-time Singapore favourite, Ya Kun Kaya Toast, now has six outlets here, including one nearby at Centre Point. I hear from our Consul in Medan that it is a very popular gathering point for both Singaporeans living here as well as for all our Indonesian friends.

4        Tourism is also an area of tremendous growth potential given North Sumatra’s cultural and natural beauty. Many of the Singaporeans I speak to still fondly recount to me their honeymoons in Lake Toba! I am excited that Lake Toba and its surrounding areas have been identified as one of 16 tourism destinations for sustainable development under the National Tourism Development Master Plan 2010 – 2025. Last year, there were about 12,500 tourist arrivals from Singapore. I understand that this figure was a bit lower than usual because of the haze last year that also affected North Sumatra. But I am confident that this number will grow as the relationship between Singapore and North Sumatra blossoms, and as the direct flights between our cities increase. In fact, I arrived in Medan earlier today on the new direct Garuda flight from Singapore. I am happy to note that Garuda has re-started its Singapore-Medan route after a 14 year hiatus. This is evidence of the growing popularity of Singapore and Medan as travel destinations. It also facilitates the development of people-to-people relations between Singapore and North Sumatra.

5         Indeed, our good relations are predicated on strong people-to-people ties. I was heartened to hear that in January this year, our Consulate organised its inaugural medical mission with SmileAsia Singapore to provide free facial reconstructive surgery to patients with cleft lip and palate deformities. In total, the team of doctors and nurses operated on 31 children and 3 adults, bringing smiles to their faces, in more ways than one. This good work was only possible with the support of the Indonesian Red Cross and Murni Teguh Hospital, and the close collaboration between the international team of doctors and medical specialists here in North Sumatra. Such collaborations illustrate the close ties between our peoples and a shared desire for constructive cooperation that benefits the local community.

6         Next year marks the 50^th anniversary of Singapore-Indonesia relations. As we take pride in what our two nations have achieved in such a short period of time, we must also set our sights on the next fifty years. Together, we will continue to deepen bilateral cooperation for mutual benefit.

7     I know everyone is looking forward to the delicious spread set before us, but before I conclude, I would like to thank our Consul Mark Low and his team in Medan for working tirelessly over the past year. To my Singaporean friends, happy National Day to you, and to our Indonesian friends, thank you for your warm hospitality. Let me end my remarks with a traditional pantun:

Berjalan-jalan ke Danau Toba

Sejuk udara, Indah karunia

Singapura Sumatera Utara satu keluarga

Marilah kita maju bersama

[Take a stroll to Toba lake

Fresh air, beautiful gift

Singapore North Sumatra is one family

Let's move forward together]

8        May you all have a pleasant evening ahead. Thank you.

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SPEECH BY SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DR MOHAMAD MALIKI OSMAN AT THE SINGAPORE CONSULATE IN BATAM’S NATIONAL DAY RECEPTION, WEDNESDAY, 3 AUGUST 2016

Your Excellency,

Bapak Nurdin Basirun, Governor of KEPRI,

My fellow Singaporeans,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

        Good evening and thank you for joining us this evening to celebrate Singapore’s 51^st National Day. I am delighted to be in Batam tonight to be part of this joyous occasion. Singapore and Indonesia share a strong and stable relationship. Our countries have enjoyed many years of close partnership in numerous areas including in trade, investment, education and the environment. Today, I am happy to note that Singapore and Indonesia are not just neighbours – we are good friends too.

2        This is my first visit to Batam as Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. I am very grateful for the warm hospitality I have received on this trip. Earlier today, I had the pleasure of meeting KEPRI Governor Nurdin Basirun and Batam Mayor Muhammad Rudi. We had good discussions on how to further strengthen the longstanding relationship between Singapore and KEPRI.

3         Singapore and KEPRI relations are underpinned by robust economic linkages. Singapore has consistently been KEPRI’s largest trade partner and investor. Singapore remains the largest investor in Batam. It has been reported that 65% of Batam’s FDI in 2015 originated from Singapore. Through the years, we have also welcomed 63 KEPRI officials for training courses under our Singapore Cooperation Programme in areas such as tourism management and sustainable development.

4         We must invest effort into ensuring that relations between Singapore and KEPRI continue to grow. Singapore and Indonesia work closely through the Batam-Bintan-Karimun Working Group, under the Six Bilateral Economic Working Groups established in 2010, to oversee bilateral economic cooperation. This signals the importance both sides place on KEPRI. I am also heartened to note that President Joko Widodo and the Indonesian government have been implementing further reforms in Batam to further boost the investment climate here. Singapore stands in full support of KEPRI’s continued growth and development.

5         I also encourage Singaporean companies based in KEPRI to continue contributing to the improvement of their local communities. Just to name an example, SembCorp Marine Offshore Engineering recently launched a training and learning centre in Kabil. This facility trains workers in the oil and gas sector and helps to develop the skills of the local workforce.

6         Our excellent ties are also underpinned by growing people-to-people linkages. Singaporeans have often told me how attractive and convenient KEPRI is as a weekend getaway. Indeed, the numbers speak for themselves – Singapore remains KEPRI’s number one tourist source with more than one million tourist arrivals from Singapore last year. The Tour de Barelang and the Bintan Triathlon have now become popular events marked on the calendars of the many sports enthusiasts in the region. With other exciting events like the KEPRI Bahari Festival, we can expect Singaporeans to continue thronging to KEPRI. Our communities also have long-standing partnerships in a wide-range of programmes. For instance, Habitat for Humanity Singapore and its Indonesian counterpart have worked together through the years to build more than 2,000 houses in Batam since 2004. We should encourage more of such initiatives which exemplify the spirit of friendship and goodwill between our peoples.

7         Next year, we look forward to the celebration of 50 years of Singapore-Indonesia bilateral relations. This milestone will mark half a century of mutually beneficial cooperation. I am confident that under Bapak Nurdin’s leadership, we will continue to deepen our cooperation.

8         I know that everyone is eagerly awaiting the delicious food that has been prepared for us tonight, but before I conclude, I must thank our Consul Gavin Chay and his team in Batam for working tirelessly over the past few years. This afternoon, I had the pleasure of celebrating the Batam Singapore Community Club’s first anniversary with some of you. Thank you once again for your efforts to strengthen the Singapore community in Batam. To all Singaporeans here, I would like to wish you a happy National Day. You are the bedrock of Singapore’s relationship with Batam. And I would also like to thank our distinguished guests for welcoming me so warmly to Batam. Tonight, we celebrate not just Singapore’s National Day, but also, just as importantly, the friendship between our peoples.

9         I would also like to take this opportunity to extend in advance my warmest congratulations to Indonesia and KEPRI on Indonesia’s 71st Independence Day on 17 August. As customary, let me end my remarks with a pantun:

Berlayar jauh naik perahu

Bertemu kawan di pulau Sambu

Kepri - Singapura semakin maju

Semoga kita tetap bersatu

[Sail away with boat

Met a friend in Sambu island

Kepri Singapore getting forward

May we remain united]

10           Please enjoy the evening ahead. Thank you.

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