Highlighting bilateral ties, KL food outlet Agrobazaar opens in S’pore

SINGAPORE — A central marketplace highlighting Malaysian food produce opened in Arab Street yesterday, reflecting the close ties and shared culture between Singapore and its neighbour, the Prime Ministers from both countries said yesterday.

The Malaysian-funded initiative, Agrobazaar, is a speciality grocery store and restaurant across more than 5,000sqf. But beyond food, the outlet in Singapore — Agrobazaar’s first branch overseas — is telling of Singapore and Malaysia’s bilateral ties, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said at the opening ceremony yesterday.

“While food is very important to both Malaysians and Singaporeans, I think the Agrobazaar is about something more. It reflects our close economic ties, our shared culture and our long friendship. And it shows that if we work together, there is much benefit to both parties,” he said.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, similarly, spoke of a common heritage between both countries. “I can think of few better places than Singapore, which attracts so many international visitors and which we share a common culinary heritage with. Singapore and Malaysia may occasionally differ on terminology, but we taste with one tongue,” he said.

Mr Najib said a fifth of Malaysia’s agro-food products, worth more than US$1 billion (S$1.25 billion), are exported to Singapore annually. “And with the kind of cooperation we see here at the Agrobazaar, I am sure those numbers will continue to rise,” he added.

Located at Sultan Gate Road, Agrobazaar sells native Malaysian fruits such as duku, cempedak durian, Musang King durian, as well as other agro-based products. The store also features an al fresco dining area.

Yesterday, Mr Lee said he looks forward to further deepening interactions between the people of both countries in the coming years, particularly with the building of the Rapid Transit System link between Johor Baru and Singapore, as well as the high-speed rail between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Besides improving the flow of goods and people across the borders, the rail links will allow the two countries to better understand each other’s cultures and heritage, Mr Lee said.

“(However) with such close interactions between our two countries, we must expect issues to arise from time to time. But I believe we can keep lines of communication, not just between the leaders, but also between the ministers and the senior officials and their counterparts. (This way), we can manage everything which comes along ... and continue to make progress on existing as well as new areas of cooperation.”

Recent issues that have surfaced between both countries include Malaysia’s move to increase toll charges for all vehicles, except motorcycles, travelling from Singapore to Johor; as well as a new Causeway toll for all vehicles travelling from Johor to Singapore.

Mr Lee concluded yesterday: “We can imagine the friendship between Singapore and Malaysia to be like a flowering fruit tree. We will have to continually nurture it and tend it, and if we do so, along the way success will blossom, and blossom again.”

Yesterday’s event was attended by about 400 guests, including Malaysia’s Minister for Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob, and Johor Chief Minister Mohamed Khaled Bin Nordin. Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law K Shanmugam, as well as National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan attended, among others.

Agrobazaar store manager Mohamed Shukri Ahmad said the store’s location was selected because it was a tourist area, with high human traffic.