SINGAPORE – Singapore and Malaysia are dedicated to resolving longstanding bilateral issues, including those related to airspace, water, and maritime borders, through cooperative and amicable means. This commitment was affirmed by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a joint press conference on June 12 at Seri Perdana, the official residence of the Malaysian PM in Putrajaya.
“While the issues are complex and may take some time to resolve, we are fully committed to managing them in a way that will enable our overall bilateral relationship to continue to flourish,” said PM Wong.
PM Anwar expressed optimism about resolving these issues, suggesting it would be “wonderful, marvellous” to have them settled before their annual leaders’ retreat at the end of the year, though he acknowledged this might be ambitious. He emphasized that resolving these issues would demonstrate how good neighbors can interact positively.
On his first overseas trip since taking office in May, PM Wong stressed the importance of building a strong relationship with PM Anwar, continuing the strong ties established by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong with Malaysia’s leadership. “I think we have done so today over a lovely meal and durians for dessert,” Wong remarked.
Building strong rapport and trust between leaders is crucial for directing ministers and officials on both sides to negotiate and discuss outstanding issues in a spirit of cooperation, aiming for win-win outcomes, said PM Wong. He also emphasized the continuity in the approach to bilateral engagement while exploring new ideas to deepen ties.
The two countries already collaborate extensively across various sectors, including health, education, culture, trade, investments, connectivity, and emerging areas such as the digital economy and renewable energy. PM Wong expressed his eagerness to see the fruition of joint projects like the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and the Rapid Transit Link between Woodlands and Johor, which are expected to enhance bilateral ties.
PM Anwar highlighted the potential for cooperation in new areas such as culture and tourism. He also proposed the idea of Singapore deploying teachers to northern Malaysia to teach English and other subjects.
Despite perceptions of competition between Singapore and Malaysia, PM Wong noted that both countries complement each other, with the real competition being external. “We all know that we are entering a world that is becoming more dangerous, more unpredictable, more troubled, and in this new environment, our two countries must redouble our efforts to work closely together and work in a pragmatic fashion for positive outcomes for both sides,” he said.
PM Wong’s engagements in Kuala Lumpur follow his introductory visits to Southeast Asian capitals, beginning with Brunei on June 11. As Malaysia prepares to chair ASEAN in 2025, PM Wong emphasized that both countries can provide a strong foundation for a more dynamic and competitive Southeast Asia. “Singapore will fully support Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN, and we hope to be able to work together to set an ambitious and forward-looking agenda for ASEAN for the next 10 years,” he concluded.