Singapore-Malaysia Ties
'Good And Getting Better'
[wongkanseng.blogspot.com]
THE Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia will hold their first retreat in May in one of the clearest signs yet that bilateral ties are 'good and getting better'.
That was the phrase Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo used yesterday to describe warming relations.
He told Parliament that Mr Lee Hsien Loong would lead a delegation of ministers up north for a retreat with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and his colleagues.
Singapore had also proposed setting up a consulate in Johor Baru, a move welcomed by Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, said Mr Yeo as he gave an overview of the Republic's foreign relations.
Quoting his Malaysian counterpart, Mr Yeo said he agreed with him that bilateral ties 'have never been better'.
Datuk Seri Syed Hamid had also said that while it did not mean all bilateral issues had been resolved, the two sides were now moving to a more mature track and could separate those areas where there was potential for progress and move ahead on them.
'I welcome this new phase in our relationship,' said Mr Yeo.
'Close cooperation between our two countries will benefit our peoples,' he added.
He expressed his own delight at Genting's successful bid for the Sentosa integrated resort project. Singapore also looked forward to working with Malaysia on the Iskandar Development Region in south Johor 'on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit'.
Mr Yeo told the House too that the National University of Singapore would be conferring on the Sultan of Johor an honorary doctorate when he visits the Republic next month.
Turning to the overall regional and international outlook for Singapore, Mr Yeo said it was favourable.
Ties between the big powers, namely, the United States, China and Japan, which affected Singapore, had improved.
On the regional front, Singapore was doing all it could to move Asean forward as it believed that a strong and peaceful regional grouping could play a major role in maintaining the larger peace in Asia.
On current tensions with some fellow Asean members, Mr Yeo said it was understandable that Singaporeans would be concerned, but they should take the ups and downs in their stride.
'From time to time, we must expect countries to pressure us in the hope that we will then give in to their demands,' he said.
Singapore would not give in to such pressures but was always prepared to build good relations with its neighbours on the basis of mutual respect and benefit, he said.
He was responding to nine Members of Parliament, who asked about Indonesia's recent ban on sand exports to the Republic.
Mr Yeo replied that it was 'not clear' what caused the recent events that threatened bilateral relations.
'We know, for a fact, that President Yudhoyono values good bilateral relations, as we do,' he added, referring to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
On ongoing talks for an extradition treaty and a defence cooperation agreement, Mr Yeo said the two countries were not far from a solution.
Both have agreed to elevate the negotiations to the ministerial level so that 'they can be jointly concluded on an overall balance of benefits', he added.
On Thailand, he was confident that ties would weather the uproar over former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's visit to Singapore in January.
MPs welcomed the news of improving ties with Malaysia.
On the proposed consulate in Johor, Mr Michael Palmer, deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs, said: 'If our interests in Johor increase, we should have diplomatic representation. It would help our businesses there if and when they run into any problems.'
shpeh@sph.com.sg
http://wongkanseng.blogspot.com/2007/03/singapore-malaysia-ties-good-and.html
'Good And Getting Better'
[wongkanseng.blogspot.com]
THE Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia will hold their first retreat in May in one of the clearest signs yet that bilateral ties are 'good and getting better'.
That was the phrase Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo used yesterday to describe warming relations.
He told Parliament that Mr Lee Hsien Loong would lead a delegation of ministers up north for a retreat with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and his colleagues.
Singapore had also proposed setting up a consulate in Johor Baru, a move welcomed by Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, said Mr Yeo as he gave an overview of the Republic's foreign relations.
Quoting his Malaysian counterpart, Mr Yeo said he agreed with him that bilateral ties 'have never been better'.
Datuk Seri Syed Hamid had also said that while it did not mean all bilateral issues had been resolved, the two sides were now moving to a more mature track and could separate those areas where there was potential for progress and move ahead on them.
'I welcome this new phase in our relationship,' said Mr Yeo.
'Close cooperation between our two countries will benefit our peoples,' he added.
He expressed his own delight at Genting's successful bid for the Sentosa integrated resort project. Singapore also looked forward to working with Malaysia on the Iskandar Development Region in south Johor 'on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit'.
Mr Yeo told the House too that the National University of Singapore would be conferring on the Sultan of Johor an honorary doctorate when he visits the Republic next month.
Turning to the overall regional and international outlook for Singapore, Mr Yeo said it was favourable.
Ties between the big powers, namely, the United States, China and Japan, which affected Singapore, had improved.
On the regional front, Singapore was doing all it could to move Asean forward as it believed that a strong and peaceful regional grouping could play a major role in maintaining the larger peace in Asia.
On current tensions with some fellow Asean members, Mr Yeo said it was understandable that Singaporeans would be concerned, but they should take the ups and downs in their stride.
'From time to time, we must expect countries to pressure us in the hope that we will then give in to their demands,' he said.
Singapore would not give in to such pressures but was always prepared to build good relations with its neighbours on the basis of mutual respect and benefit, he said.
He was responding to nine Members of Parliament, who asked about Indonesia's recent ban on sand exports to the Republic.
Mr Yeo replied that it was 'not clear' what caused the recent events that threatened bilateral relations.
'We know, for a fact, that President Yudhoyono values good bilateral relations, as we do,' he added, referring to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
On ongoing talks for an extradition treaty and a defence cooperation agreement, Mr Yeo said the two countries were not far from a solution.
Both have agreed to elevate the negotiations to the ministerial level so that 'they can be jointly concluded on an overall balance of benefits', he added.
On Thailand, he was confident that ties would weather the uproar over former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's visit to Singapore in January.
MPs welcomed the news of improving ties with Malaysia.
On the proposed consulate in Johor, Mr Michael Palmer, deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs, said: 'If our interests in Johor increase, we should have diplomatic representation. It would help our businesses there if and when they run into any problems.'
shpeh@sph.com.sg
http://wongkanseng.blogspot.com/2007/03/singapore-malaysia-ties-good-and.html
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