PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim is in Singapore today for the two-day Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat.

Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said the visit would be the first meeting under the retreat between Anwar and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

This retreat is the highest-level bilateral mechanism between the two countries, which has been held in rotation since 2007.

“The organisation of this retreat has been put on hold since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he told the Malaysian media in Singapore today.

Zambry said the Malaysian delegation included Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad; Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz; Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail; Transport Minister Anthony Loke; Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Ewon Benedick; Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi; Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg; and Attorney-General Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh.

During the retreat, Anwar will pay a courtesy call on Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

He will also hold a four-point meeting with his counterpart Lee followed by the Malaysia-Singapore delegation summit.

Zambry said among the issues that would be discussed during the retreat were measures to improve connectivity, strengthen bilateral economic cooperation, and opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy.

“Both leaders are also expected to refine approaches that are progressive and mutually beneficial in resolving bilateral issues,” he said.

He said the two prime ministers would witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the field of entrepreneurship and a side letter to improve provisions in the Agreement for the Malaysia-Singapore Third National Business Development Fund.

A joint statement would be issued by both leaders after the retreat, Zambry said.

Singapore is Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner.

In 2022, total trade between Malaysia and Singapore rose by 37.6% to RM368.19 billion compared with the 2021 trade value.

Malaysia is set to host the 2024 Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat. – Bernama, October 29, 2023.