Malaysia-Singapore Ties Poised For Greater Heights, Says High Commissioner

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah SINGAPORE, Dec 29 (Bernama) -- The bilateral relations between Malaysia and Singapore are getting stronger in all areas and poised for greater heights both politically and economically, said Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Husni Zai Yaacob. "In terms of economy, trade, investment and tourism, we hope to achieve better growth. So far, the figures have been quite encouraging," he told Bernama in an interview here. For tourism, Husni said, "In the first half, we recorded a 10 per cent growth in terms of Singapore tourists going to Malaysia, and a 10 per cent increase in the sector signifies such a good growth." According to him, Malaysia received some 23 million Singaporean visitors last year. "Hopefully this year we get more than 24 million because of the Visit Malaysia Year and the aggressive promotional efforts by Tourism Malaysia." In terms of high-level visits, Husni said the Prime Minister Najib Razak was expected to visit Singapore in the first quarter of next year for the Leaders Retreat with his counterpart Lee Hsien Loong. "This is an annual retreat between the two prime ministers. The Duo and Marina One projects undertaken by Khazanah Malaysia and Temasek Holdings are progressing very well," he said. Husni said the two prime ministers would be briefed and given an update on the projects undertaken by the two countries such as the proposed High Speed Rail (HSR) project connecting Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and the Singapore-Johor Baharu Rapid Transit System (RTS Link). The HSR project will have seven stops in Malaysia, namely Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Seremban, Ayer Keroh, Muar, Batu Pahat and Nusajaya, while the RTS is a planned rapid transit system that will connect Singapore and Johor Baharu, crossing the Straits of Johor. When asked on the vision between the two countries, Husni said: "I am optimistic that the relations between the two cuntries will grow stronger to reach greater heights, both economically or politically, and in terms of people to people relations." Touching on the establishment of the Malaysia Singapore Association here, he said the association was in the midst of getting more Malaysians living and working in Singapore to join as members. He said the association will conduct a membership drive on Jan 15, 2015. Referring to Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd's initiative to get more Malaysians to go back and work in Malaysia, he said: "Also with the establishment of association, it will provide more information for Malaysians who wish to return." Husni, who is the patron of the association, said so far the response from Malaysians here was very encouraging but he hoped more would join as members. -- BERNAMA