SINGAPORE, May 6 — Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar today expressed gratitude to outgoing Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for being a close friend to Johor and Malaysia.
Sultan Ibrahim said Lee’s dedication and foresight has steered Malaysia and Singapore towards closer cooperation in building a better future.
His Majesty also congratulated Lee’s successor, Lawrence Wong, on being named new Singapore Prime Minister. Wong will assume the position on May 15.
“I have every confidence that his esteemed leadership will further strengthen ties between our two nations,” Sultan Ibrahim said at the state banquet held at the Istana here today.
The state banquet, hosted by Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, was held in conjunction with the King and Queen’s two-day visit to the republic.
His Majesty said Malaysia and Singapore have a special relationship, bonded by a common history and culture as well as close economic ties.
“One of the core elements of our ties together is how Johor and Singapore have enjoyed a splendid relationship over decades,” he said.
Sultan Ibrahim also paid tribute to Singapore’s founding father, the late Lee Kuan Yew, for being the chief architect of the republic, and His Majesty shared stories of close ties with the Lee family.
“He laid the strong foundation that was essential for the country. He has guided many and loved to lecture too. I, myself, was not spared. He has lectured me on many topics and I have learnt much from him,” Sultan Ibrahim said.
His Majesty said the first prime minister of Singapore, among others, shared the need to be consistent in policy to inspire confidence among long-term investors.
Earlier, His Majesty and the Singapore President unveiled stamp designs jointly issued by Pos Malaysia and SingPost to kick off the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Causeway this year.
The two leaders also viewed a photo exhibition on the Causeway’s history.
Sultan Ibrahim and Raja Zarith Sofiah arrived in Singapore today for a two-day state visit to the republic.
The state visit, the first since His Majesty’s ascension to the federal throne on January 31, was at the invitation of the Singapore President.
— Bernama
