BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is set to embark on a two-day official visit to Brunei tomorrow in an effort to further enhance bilateral ties and trade with its Asean partner.
Speaking to reporters here, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir confirmed that Anwar’s visit will be his second official visit since becoming prime minister.
In addition to Zambry, Anwar will be accompanied by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as part of the delegation expected to arrive at the capital city at 3.25pm.
“Brunei Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah is expected to be on hand to welcome Anwar upon his arrival at Brunei International Airport,” said Zambry.
The prime minister is then scheduled to attend a dinner with a section of the Malaysian diaspora at the Malaysian High Commission in Brunei in the evening.
It is learnt that there are roughly 25,000 Malaysians in Brunei, the majority of whom work in its service sector.
On Tuesday, Anwar will be seeking an audience with the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, followed by a four-eyed meeting and royal luncheon at Istana Nurul Iman.
Following the audience, the sultan and Anwar will witness the memorandum of understanding ceremony between the Malaysian Investment Development Authority and Brunei Investment Authority, before departing back to Malaysia in the evening.
The signing, Zambry said, follows the sultan’s recent visit to Malaysia on November 28, last year, in the immediate aftermath of Anwar’s appointment as prime minister.
“The signing will give both countries the opportunity to explore investment opportunities based on mutual benefit.”
Far-right Danish leader Rasmus Paludan’s Islamophobic act of burning the Quran in Stockholm, Sweden will also be on the table, said Zambry, who noted that he will discuss the issue with his counterpart, Erywan Mohd Yusof.
Also present during the press conference was Foreign Ministry secretary-general, Datuk Seri Amrin Mohamed Zain.
In 2022, Brunei was Malaysia’s 26th largest trading partner and the sixth largest in Asean, with total trade worth RM13.2 billion. – The Vibes, January 23, 2023
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