SINGAPORE: Bilateral ties between Malaysia and Singapore is now at an all-time high and the good relations will flourish further for the mutual benefit of both countries, says Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk Husni Zai Yaacob.
“We managed to resolve issues under the Point of Agreement. In terms of exchange of visits, the President of Singapore visited Malaysia two weeks ago, which was a very successful occasion,” he said during a briefing for the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa Ali who was on his first working visit to the republic on Thursday.
Present were Director-General of the Public Services Department Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidi Zainal.
In terms of trade and investment, Husni said: “Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Singapore last year stood at U$57 billion, an increase of 8.7 per cent over the previous year.” As for investments, he said cumulative committed investments from Singapore in Iskandar Malaysia, as of July, stood at S$2.4 billion.
“Singapore is the biggest trading partner and biggest export market. The republic is also the biggest foreign investor in Iskandar,” he said.
In terms of tourism, Husni said Singapore was the biggest growth market with 13 million Singaporeans visiting Malaysia last year, accounting for 52 per cent of the 25 million tourists who visited the country.
Head of the Singapore civil service Tan Sri Peter Ong hosted dinner last night in honour of the chief secretary.
Yesterday morning, Ali made a courtesy call on Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, as well as, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Home Affairs, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister in charge of the Civil Service, Teo Chee Hean.
Husni also said the chief secretary also visited the Centre for Strategic Futures and the sites of the Khazanah Nasional Bhd-Temasek Holdings (Private) Ltd joint development projects in Marina One and Ophir-Rochor.
The joint venture projects came about after a successful deal reached in Singapore that were agreed upon under the Points of Agreement.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong, had in 2010, arrived at the agreement on the Malayan Railway land in Singapore. — Bernama