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APPENDIX A: Speeches by Malaysia’s Agong and Singapore’s President Kuala Lumpur, 11 April 2005
- ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
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APPENDIX A Speeches by Malaysia’s Agong and Singapore’s President Kuala Lumpur, 11 April 2005 08 S'pore-M'sia Relations App 6/7/06, 12:31 PM 61 62 Singapore-Malaysia Relations under Abdullah Badawi 08 S'pore-M'sia Relations App 6/7/06, 12:31 PM 62 [3.131.110.169] Project MUSE (2024-04-17 22:42 GMT) 1. Speech by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin at the State Banquet Held in Honour of President and Mrs S. R. Nathan at the Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur, 11 April 2005. Your Excellency, S. R. Nathan, President of the Republic of Singapore, And Mrs S. R. Nathan, The Honourable Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, The Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Raja Permaisuri Agong joins us in warmly welcoming Your Excellency and Mrs Nathan to Malaysia. We are indeed pleased by your visit, which is the first State Visit to Malaysia by the President of the Republic of Singapore since the year 1991. This visit comes at a crucial time of renewed friendship and enhanced bilateral ties between our two countries. 2. We believe that Your Excellency will feel at home during this visit, as Your Excellency is no stranger to this country, having served as the High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore to Malaysia from 1988 to 1990. Your Excellency, 3. Malaysia and the Republic of Singapore share unique and special ties, not only as close neighbours but also through our permanent links of shared history, cultures and languages. Relations between our two countries can be illustrated by the Malay proverb, “Bagaikan aur dengan tebing”, which literally means “like the bamboo grove and the riverbank”. Appendix A 63 08 S'pore-M'sia Relations App 6/7/06, 12:31 PM 63 64 Singapore-Malaysia Relations under Abdullah Badawi 4. The bamboo grove and the riverbank share a symbiotic relationship. The bamboo grove depends on the soil of the riverbank to grow. While the riverbank is dependent on the roots of the bamboo grove to prevent it from gradual erosion, which can lead to its collapse. Neither would survive without the other and neither would gain if the other weakens or perishes. Your Excellency, Our two countries also enjoy substantive relations. 5. In the areas of trade and investment, Singapore is Malaysia’s second biggest trade partner and the fourth largest foreign investor in Malaysia. While Malaysia, amongst the ASEAN countries, is the largest investor in Singapore. 6. We are also pleased to note that Singaporeans make up the highest share of tourist arrival to Malaysia annually. Singapore likewise, is a major tourist destination for Malaysians. 7. The establishment of the ‘Malaysia-Singapore Third Country Business Development Fund’ in 2004 illustrates the unlimited opportunities for both countries to cooperate and expand joint investments and business opportunities, not only in our two countries, but also in third countries for our mutual benefit. Your Excellency, 8. Being close neighbours, we may sometimes have to compete with each other in facing increasing challenges of globalization and shifting geo-political order in the region. Competition, in itself, is not a bad thing as it allows us to improve ourselves, so as not to become complacent. However, more often than not, both countries will find it more beneficial in their long-term interests to cooperate in a complementary way when facing such challenges. 08 S'pore-M'sia Relations App 6/7/06, 12:31 PM 64 [3.131.110.169] Project MUSE (2024-04-17 22:42 GMT) Appendix A 65 9. As another Malay saying goes “Sedangkan lidah lagi tergigit”. This implies that differences can arise even though we are close to one another. More importantly, it is the way we deal with and react to the differences that matter in building a constructive relationship. In this connection, we are indeed pleased to see our two countries moving forward in the ongoing negotiations to resolve outstanding bilateral issues based on the spirit of good neighbourliness and cooperation. Your Excellency, 10. To further strengthen relations and cooperation between our two countries, we believe it is important for us to encourage closer peopleto -people contacts. It is indeed heartening to witness the steady increase in the cross-flow of people from both sides in recent years. This has been further enhanced lately by the increase in the exchange for visits involving government leader, ministers, senior officials and students between the two...