[UPDATED] Singapore president receives state welcome at Istana

KUALA LUMPUR – Singapore President Halimah Yacob was accorded a state welcome at Istana Negara here today in conjunction with her maiden three-day visit to Malaysia, which began yesterday.

On arrival at 11am, Halimah and her husband Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee were greeted by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.

Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and cabinet members.

The welcoming ceremony at the parade ground began with the singing of Singapore and Malaysia’s national anthems by the Royal Malaysian Air Force central band, followed by a 21-gun salute.

Halimah then inspected a guard of honour mounted by four officers and 103 rank-and-file personnel of the First Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment from Wardieburn Camp in Setapak here, under the command of Mohd Fadjrin Masor @ Mansor.

Halimah and the Agong then planted a Gelam tree (melaleuca cajuputi) in the palace compound, witnessed by Abdullah, Tunku Azizah, Anwar, and Dr Wan Azizah. 

The Singapore president then attended a state luncheon with the king and queen.

She is making her visit at the invitation of the Agong, who had visited Singapore in October 2022.

According to a Wisma Putra statement, the visit will further strengthen ties and cooperation between the two countries in various areas.

Singapore was Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner and the largest among Asean members in 2022 with trade totalling RM367.53 billion, a 29.4% increase over the figure for 2021. – Bernama, March 21, 2023