MFA Press Statement: State Visit of President Halimah Yacob to Negara Brunei Darussalam, 11 to 14 May 2018

President Halimah Yacob will make a State Visit to Negara Brunei Darussalam from 11 to 14 May 2018 at the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam. This is President Halimah’s first overseas State Visit.

President Halimah will receive a ceremonial welcome at the Istana Nurul Iman and have an audience followed by a bilateral meeting with the Sultan. President Halimah will be hosted to a State Banquet by the Sultan and Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha. President Halimah and the Sultan will also take a morning walk followed by breakfast in Bandar Seri Begawan during Brunei’s weekly Bandarku Ceria (car-free day) event. During these engagements, President Halimah will meet senior members of the Bruneian Royal Family and Cabinet, including His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office of Negara Brunei Darussalam.

  President Halimah and the Sultan will witness the signing of the following agreements: (i) Financial Technology Cooperation Agreement between the Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam and the Monetary Authority of Singapore; and (ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Financial Intelligence Unit, Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam and the Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office, Commercial Affairs Department, Singapore Police Force Concerning Cooperation in the Exchange of Information related to Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.

  President Halimah will visit the Defence Academy Royal Brunei Armed Forces, the University of Brunei Darussalam Botanical Research Centre and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel training in Brunei. President Halimah will also meet the Singaporean community in Brunei at a dinner reception.

  President Halimah will be accompanied by Mr Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, Minister for Finance Mr Heng Swee Keat, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Maliki Osman, Members of Parliament Mr Desmond Choo, Dr Lim Wee Kiak, and Ms Joan Pereira, and officials from the President’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance.

During President Halimah’s absence, Mr J Y Pillay, Chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers will exercise the function of the office of the President.

.     .     .     .    .

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

10 MAY 2018