IN conjunction with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s official visit to Singapore today, three agreements on cybersecurity and digital and green economy were signed between Putrajaya and Singapore.

Anwar led the Malaysian delegation in a meeting with his counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, at The Istana.

Anwar said two frameworks involving cooperation in the digital economy and green economy were signed by International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and his Singapore counterpart, Gan Kim Yong.

“Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil represented Malaysia to sign a memorandum of understanding to promote cooperation from the aspects of data, cybersecurity and digital economy,” he said in a post on the official Twitter page today.

Anwar said he and Lee as close friends and neighbours were able to work together constructively and produce a win-win situation with significant benefits for the people and businesses of both countries.

This is Anwar’s first official visit to Singapore after assuming the office of prime minister.

“I was also honoured by PM Lee, who named a hybrid orchid species ‘Dendrobium Anwar Azizah’ in conjunction with my official visit to Singapore,” Anwar said.

He said the meeting provided an opportunity to explore greater cooperation to improve Malaysia-Singapore relations.

“We also had the opportunity to discuss various regional and international issues of mutual interest,” he said.

Previously, Tengku Zafrul said discussions with Singapore on a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) in digital trade and green economy had started last year and had been presented to the cabinet, which had given its approval for it to be finalised soon.

The two countries signed an MOC in the digital and green economy, a first for Putrajaya, due to the growth potential in both sectors. The MOC is a follow-up to the cooperation framework finalised by both countries last August.

A framework for cooperation in the digital economy will facilitate enhanced collaboration in areas such as trade facilitation, digital identity, standards, investment promotion, facilitation of digitisation and digitisation of micro, small and medium enterprises.

This will open up wider opportunities, benefiting businesses, workers and people in both countries.

From the aspect of the green economy, the two countries will strengthen cooperation to decarbonise industries in addition to allowing businesses and workers to seize existing opportunities. – Bernama, January 30, 2023.