“PM Lawrence Wong Visits Brunei and Malaysia, Strengthening Regional Ties and Bilateral Collaboration”

SINGAPORE – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has embarked on his first official overseas visit since taking office, meeting leaders in Brunei and Malaysia to reaffirm and deepen Singapore’s bilateral ties with its Southeast Asian neighbors. In Kuala Lumpur on June 12, PM Wong joined Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in discussing various areas of cooperation, with both leaders expressing enthusiasm for joint efforts in education, infrastructure, and economic development.

Among the collaborative initiatives discussed were proposals for Singaporean teachers to contribute to English education in Malaysian regions, a suggestion warmly received by PM Wong. Both leaders also highlighted the Johor Singapore Special Economic Zone and the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which has reached 77.6% completion and promises to enhance the movement of people and goods across borders. PM Wong shared that Singapore remains open to potential talks on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) if proposals arise.

PM Wong emphasized the value of building relationships of trust and understanding with neighboring countries, recalling that PM Anwar was the first international leader to congratulate him upon assuming office. “My focus is on human relationships,” PM Wong stated, underscoring his commitment to open dialogue and cooperation.

In Brunei on June 11, PM Wong was received by Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah and held a royal audience with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. During this visit, he reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to its “special relationship” with Brunei, noting the longstanding military and diplomatic ties shared by the two countries. The leaders also discussed the upcoming Singapore-Brunei Young Leaders’ Programme (YLP), which Singapore will host later this year.

The visit to Brunei and Malaysia sets a tone of continuity and engagement, with PM Wong pledging to work closely with ASEAN neighbors to address shared challenges and foster collaboration.