Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Najib to attend Leaders’ Retreat in Singapore from Monday

SINGAPORE — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak will be in Singapore on Monday (Jan 15) and Tuesday to attend the eighth Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat at the invitation of his Singapore counterpart, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Singapore's PM Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysia's PM Najib Razak at the 2015 Leader's Retreat at Shangri-la. TODAY file photo

Singapore's PM Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysia's PM Najib Razak at the 2015 Leader's Retreat at Shangri-la. TODAY file photo

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak will be in Singapore on Monday (Jan 15) and Tuesday to attend the eighth Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat at the invitation of his Singapore counterpart, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The yearly retreat, originally scheduled for last month, was postponed at Mr Najib’s request as he had to attend a special meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation in Turkey on Dec 13.

On Monday, Mr Najib will call on President Halimah Yacob, Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Ministry (MFA) said in a statement on Sunday. Later in the evening, Mr Lee and his wife Ho Ching will host Mr Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor to a private dinner.

The two leaders will meet on Tuesday for bilateral discussions, and will witness the signing of a bilateral agreement for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) linking Johor and Singapore.

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan and Mr Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Malaysia’s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, will ink the agreement.

“The RTS Link will help to boost connectivity, strengthen our economic and business links, and enhance people-to-people relations,” said the MFA's statement.

Announced by the Malaysian and Singapore governments in 2010, the rail link project will provide a much-needed alternative to the tens of thousands of people who travel across the Causeway every day. When completed, it is expected to transport up to 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction between the two cities.

The link will connect Woodlands in Singapore and Bukit Chagar in Johor via a high bridge across the Straits of Johor.

Construction is set to begin next year, with passenger service due to start by the end of 2024.

Rail company SMRT and Malaysia’s metro operator Prasarana Malaysia will explore a joint venture to be the operating company to design, build, finance and operate the trains, tracks and systems for the rail link, the two sides disclosed in July last year.

On Monday, Mr Lee and Mr Najib will also attend the opening of the Marina One and Duo integrated developments. The projects are developed by a joint venture between Singapore state investment firm Temasek Holdings and Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional.

The MFA’s statement added: “These two iconic projects will bring tangible, mutual benefits to both countries, arising from the full implementation of the Points of Agreement on Malayan Railway Land in 2011.”

The Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat is a yearly affair for prime ministers from both sides to review the progress of bilateral ties and set the direction ahead.

A high-level delegation comprising Malaysian Cabinet ministers and senior officials will accompany Mr Najib on his trip. The Singapore delegation will include Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and other Cabinet ministers.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.