Singapore SM Lee Hsien Loong back after Malaysia trip to attend new king’s installation

Singapore Senior Minister and former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong returned from Malaysia yesterday after a four-day trip. He visited Malaysia from 19 to 22 July 2024 for the installation ceremony of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, at the Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur.

SM Lee was “among a select group of foreign leaders invited by His Majesty to attend the installation ceremony”, said a pre-trip media release by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Singapore.

Last evening, SM Lee said in an X post: “Am back home! Wrapped up my trip with engagements with Malaysian leaders. KL, and Singapore-Malaysia relations have progressed much in 5 years since my last visit. May we continue to enjoy peace, prosperity and friendship! – LHL”

According to the PMO, during his visit, SM Lee attended the installation ceremony and a royal banquet; met Malaysian Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim; had engagements with Malaysian rulers, ministers and leaders; and spoke at a Kuala Lumpur Business Club dinner event.

In addition, Lee attended a reception for Overseas Singaporeans, hosted by the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.

SM Lee was accompanied by his wife; Senior Minister of State for Defence and Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad; and Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community, and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling.

At the Business Club dinner, outlining the extremely close trade relations between Singapore and Malaysia, SM Lee said, “Next year, 2025, we celebrate 60 years of bilateral relations. For most of this period, I have been closely involved in one way or another in promoting bilateral relations.”

He elaborated on what he had done with his Malaysian counterparts over the decades in various roles: first, in the Singapore Armed Forces; next, as Singapore Trade and Industry Minister; and finally, as the Prime Minister of Singapore.

Towards the end of his speech, he told the dinner gathering that he hoped “businesses on both sides will take advantage of opportunities across the [Johor-Singapore] Causeway”, following the RTS Link completion in 2026.

In conclusion, SM Lee said, “The continued progress and prosperity of our two countries, and peoples, hinges on us maintaining the win-win, equal, and mutually respectful relationship that we have. Long may we share this goal, and long may our people continue to enjoy the blessings of peace, harmony, and friendship that we, and previous generations have worked so hard to build.”