SINGAPORE, July 14 — Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said he hoped the spirit of “Berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing” would continue to be the guiding principle of the Singapore-Malaysia partnership amid an increasingly divided world.
During an audience with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, he emphasised that the relationship between the two neighbouring countries had a quality that was difficult to find elsewhere.
“We share a history of coming together in difficult circumstances, followed by a separation that was just as difficult for both sides.
“We have also had important issues to resolve from time to time — issues that reflect the very interdependence of the two countries. But we have not let these issues affect our ability to work on positive and new areas of cooperation,” he said at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur.
The text of his speech was made available on the President’s Office website.
Tharman, accompanied by his wife Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam, is on his first state visit to Malaysia since assuming office in September 2023.
Meanwhile, the President also highlighted the strong economic partnership between the two countries, citing the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project, which complement both economies.
“The completion of the RTS will also boost exchanges between our peoples, be it in tourism, healthcare or education.
“It will help a younger generation of Singaporeans and Malaysians go through life with a familiarity, appreciation and good understanding of one another,” he added.
Tharman is undertaking a state visit to Malaysia from today to Wednesday (July 15) at the invitation of the King.
The visit reciprocates Sultan Ibrahim’s state visit to Singapore on May 6 and May 7, 2024, and reflects the close and longstanding bilateral ties between the two neighbouring countries.
