State Visit by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to Malaysia, 12 to 15 July 2026

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam is on a State Visit to Malaysia. The visit underscores both countries’ commitment to keeping bilateral relations strong, stable, and mutually beneficial for the peoples of both countries.

During President Tharman’s audience with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia on 13 July, they welcomed the positive state of bilateral relations and the good progress made in key areas of cooperation including supply chain resilience, connectivity, and joint projects such as the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. They encouraged both sides to forge deeper cooperation in areas such as renewable energy and sustainable development, and to expand on ways to strengthen people-to-people relations including among younger generations of Singaporeans and Malaysians.

During the visit, President Tharman engaged Malaysian leaders and personalities at both the Federal and state levels. President Tharman received a call by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on 13 July, during which they reaffirmed the need to deepen cooperation in areas of shared interest including food security and energy. They also exchanged views on geopolitical developments, including the implications of the unfolding situation in the Middle East. Both President Tharman and Prime Minister Anwar reaffirmed the importance of upholding international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and safeguarding freedom of navigation.

President Tharman also engaged the Overseas Singaporean community in Malaysia at a reception held at the High Commission of Singapore in Kuala Lumpur on 13 July, where he highlighted the important role played by Overseas Singaporeans in maintaining close people-to-people links between Singapore and Malaysia.

On 14 July, President Tharman visited Shah Alam, Selangor where he had an audience and with His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj, Sultan of Selangor. President Tharman also met Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, Menteri Besar of Selangor, and members of the Selangor state government, later in the day. During these engagements, the two sides discussed potential areas of collaboration including in technical and vocational education, climate adaptation and flood mitigation, and the growth of start-ups. President Tharman welcomed more exchanges between Singapore and Selangor.

At a dinner hosted by the Kuala Lumpur Business Club on 14 July, President Tharman gave an address and engaged leaders in the economic and finance sectors. President Tharman’s address touched on the challenges of a post-unipolar world. He spoke of the need to keep up links with the major powers even as we strengthen bridges with other regions. He also spoke of the need to reform multilateralism, while stepping up the pace of ASEAN integration and bilateral cooperation.

On 15 July, President Tharman will have a breakfast roundtable with business leaders. President Tharman will depart Malaysia in the afternoon.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

14 JULY 2026