What a timely visit, dont you think?
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KOH LAY CHIN: Najib's visit to herald better ties with Singapore
By Koh Lay Chin in Singapore
2009/05/21
IT will be his first official visit to the island republic as prime minister and Datuk Seri Najib Razak's arrival here today is expected to herald new beginnings for bilateral relations. There is an air of optimism in diplomatic circles over the brief, but important, two-day visit. Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk Md Hussin Nayan said more opportunities for co-operation could be explored.
"I would say that the feeling and mood is very good, warm and excellent," he said after a media briefing yesterday.
During the Asean Summit in Bangkok last month, Najib and his Singapore counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, discussed bilateral relations over lunch, with him later telling journalists that he had been invited to the republic.
This official visit is part of Najib's trip to all Asean countries in his capacity as the new Malaysian prime minister, and to review state and bilateral relations.
With Singapore, however, this anticipated visit is expected to touch on all issues between the two countries, including the co-operation revolving around the Iskandar Malaysia development in Johor, the contentious crooked or straight bridge linking the two countries, the sale of water and the Keretapi Tanah Melayu land in the republic.
There is hopeful anticipation for stronger friendship for the future, something that will be looked upon keenly, considering the often contentious and barbed exchanges of the past.
In a mix of high-level meetings and events aimed at fostering closer relations, the prime minister will call on President S.R. Nathan, and have a "four-eyed meeting" with Lee on Friday.
He will arrive this afternoon and will attend private programmes hosted by senior Singapore ministers and officers on his first day.
There will be a game of golf as well as an official banquet hosted by the Singapore government.
On Friday, Najib, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, will attend an orchid-naming ceremony at Singapore's Orchid Garden, before moving on to the Istana for the official welcoming ceremony.
After that comes the anticipated meeting with Lee, followed later by a delegations' meeting attended by ministers and officers from the Foreign, Tourism, International Trade and Industry, Transport ministries and those from the Prime Minister's Office.
Also marking the importance of economic ties between the two countries will be the attendance of officers of the Economic Planning Unit, as well as Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo had said last year that the two neighbours could benefit from working together in the face of the global downturn as their economies were intertwined.
Iskandar Malaysia, earmarked to become the most developed region in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia and which is three times the size of Singapore, is a key point of collaboration between the two countries, which have agreed to work together on iconic Iskandar projects.
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© Copyright 2009 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.
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KOH LAY CHIN: Najib's visit to herald better ties with Singapore
By Koh Lay Chin in Singapore
2009/05/21
IT will be his first official visit to the island republic as prime minister and Datuk Seri Najib Razak's arrival here today is expected to herald new beginnings for bilateral relations. There is an air of optimism in diplomatic circles over the brief, but important, two-day visit. Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk Md Hussin Nayan said more opportunities for co-operation could be explored.
"I would say that the feeling and mood is very good, warm and excellent," he said after a media briefing yesterday.
During the Asean Summit in Bangkok last month, Najib and his Singapore counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, discussed bilateral relations over lunch, with him later telling journalists that he had been invited to the republic.
This official visit is part of Najib's trip to all Asean countries in his capacity as the new Malaysian prime minister, and to review state and bilateral relations.
With Singapore, however, this anticipated visit is expected to touch on all issues between the two countries, including the co-operation revolving around the Iskandar Malaysia development in Johor, the contentious crooked or straight bridge linking the two countries, the sale of water and the Keretapi Tanah Melayu land in the republic.
There is hopeful anticipation for stronger friendship for the future, something that will be looked upon keenly, considering the often contentious and barbed exchanges of the past.
In a mix of high-level meetings and events aimed at fostering closer relations, the prime minister will call on President S.R. Nathan, and have a "four-eyed meeting" with Lee on Friday.
He will arrive this afternoon and will attend private programmes hosted by senior Singapore ministers and officers on his first day.
There will be a game of golf as well as an official banquet hosted by the Singapore government.
On Friday, Najib, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, will attend an orchid-naming ceremony at Singapore's Orchid Garden, before moving on to the Istana for the official welcoming ceremony.
After that comes the anticipated meeting with Lee, followed later by a delegations' meeting attended by ministers and officers from the Foreign, Tourism, International Trade and Industry, Transport ministries and those from the Prime Minister's Office.
Also marking the importance of economic ties between the two countries will be the attendance of officers of the Economic Planning Unit, as well as Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo had said last year that the two neighbours could benefit from working together in the face of the global downturn as their economies were intertwined.
Iskandar Malaysia, earmarked to become the most developed region in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia and which is three times the size of Singapore, is a key point of collaboration between the two countries, which have agreed to work together on iconic Iskandar projects.
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© Copyright 2009 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.
