Visit by King of Malaysia, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim
Summary
This statement concerns the formal welcome of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim to Parliament, where Mr Speaker recognized his extensive military background and academic qualifications. Mr Speaker highlighted His Majesty’s long-standing support for bilateral ties, particularly the close cooperation between Singapore and Johor to keep supply lines open during the COVID-19 pandemic. The address underscored the robust partnership between both nations, referencing significant joint projects like the Rapid Transit System Link and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. Furthermore, the speech identified future opportunities for cooperation in energy and noted upcoming milestones, including the Causeway’s centennial and 60 years of diplomatic relations. Mr Speaker concluded by expressing confidence that this visit serves as a precursor to even deeper and more resilient ties between Singapore and Malaysia.
Transcript
12.11 pm
Mr Speaker: Order. On behalf of hon Members, I would like to extend a warm welcome to His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim and his delegation, who are present in our Gallery.
His Majesty is a man of many talents. He was trained across all the branches of the military and is an army, naval and air force officer. Few may be aware that he is also a certified helicopter pilot and a commando. A statesman, His Majesty pursued his studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy where he took courses on Southeast Asian Strategic Studies and the International Law of the Sea.
These diverse experiences, both at home and abroad, have put His Majesty in good stead to lead Johor and now Malaysia. His Majesty was formally proclaimed the Sultan of Johor in 2010 and the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia earlier this year.
His Majesty is no stranger to Singapore and has always been an ardent supporter of bringing our peoples closer together. Under his reign as the Sultan of Johor, our partnership with Johor has strengthened. This was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we worked closely together to keep supply lines across the land borders open. In recognition of his achievements, the National University of Singapore conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws on His Majesty during his official visit to Singapore in 2022.
His Majesty's visit today is timely. Our bilateral relations with Malaysia are strong and robust. Exchanges at the political and official levels are regular. As some of the hon Members of this House will recall, just last May, we hosted a visit by some members of the Johor Climate Change and Disaster Management Committee.
We have many exciting projects in the pipeline, such as the Rapid Transit System Link project and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. We are also looking to expand our cooperation with Malaysia to new areas, like energy.
This year we will celebrate the centennial of the Causeway and next year we will commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations with Malaysia. I am confident that His Majesty's visit today is a precursor to even stronger ties between Singapore and Malaysia.
We are honoured to have His Majesty with us. Please join me in welcoming His Majesty to our Parliament. [Applause.]
12.14 pm
We will continue with Question Time now. Order, order.