KUALA LUMPUR — Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on July 13 praised the enduring and forward-looking relationship between Singapore and Malaysia during a visit to Istana Negara, where he paid a call on Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar.
Speaking at the palace, President Tharman said successive leaders on both sides have consistently chosen to “look to the future and build together,” creating a relationship that transcends short-term differences. He recalled the countries’ shared history, including the 1963 merger and Singapore’s 1965 separation from the Malaysian Federation and noted that periodic disputes have not derailed broader cooperation.
Tharman pointed to current bilateral projects such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and the upcoming Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link as examples of growing economic complementarity. He said completion of the RTS Link will expand people-to-people exchanges in tourism, healthcare and education and help younger generations develop mutual familiarity and understanding.
During the visit, the president, accompanied by his wife, was hosted to a state banquet and toured Carcosa Seri Negara, an historic site in Perdana Botanical Gardens that played a role in Malaysia’s independence negotiations.
Sultan Ibrahim, who Tharman described as a longtime friend of Singapore, highlighted more than 200 years of trade ties and his family’s long relationship with Singapore’s leaders. Both leaders emphasized that infrastructure and economic cooperation rest on deep social affinity, an enduring kinship that, Tharman said, helps the two countries navigate an increasingly divided world.
Tharman later met Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and addressed a reception for about 150 Singaporeans living across Malaysia, urging them to carry their Malaysian experiences back to Singapore and praising their role in strengthening bilateral ties. Around 120,000 Singaporeans live and work in Malaysia; attendees at the reception included Singapore-born entrepreneurs who described Malaysia as offering significant opportunities and a welcoming second home.