PM NAJIB WILL EXPLORE NEW OPPORTUNIES IN SINGAPORE

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, May 21 (Bernama) - Malaysia is expected to explore new
opportunities that will further strengthen its bilateral relations with
Singapore when Prime Minister Najib Razak makes his first official visit to the
city-state beginning Thursday.

Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Md Hussin Nayan said Wednesday
Najib was also expected to touch on all major and extensive issues of interest
to both neighbouring countries during his bilateral meeting with his Singapore
counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, on Friday.

Md Hussin, who was briefing the Malaysian media on the eve of Najib's visit
to the republic at the Malaysian High Commission here, however declined to
comment when asked whether contentious issues such as the abandoned bridge
project linking Woodlands and Johor Baharu and the Iskandar Malaysia development
area would be discussed.

Saying that relations between both countries were 'very good, positive, warm
and excellent', the ambassador was confident the cooperation between Malaysia
and Singapore would be further improved and promoted following Najib's visit.

Apart from reviewing bilateral relations, Md Nayan also said the visit here
was part of the Prime Minister's customary visits to Malaysia's neighbouring
countries after taking over the prime minister's post.

This is Najib's first visit as Prime Minister to the island republic since
taking over the post from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Malaysia's fifth prime
minister, on April 3 this year.

Najib, who will be accompanied by his wife Rosmah Mansor, last came to the
city-state on May 31 last year to attend the 7th IISS (International Institute
for Strategic Studies) Asia Security Summit - The Shangri-La Dialogue where he
was a regular speaker, when he was Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister.

However, Najib had informally met Lee in Pattaya, Thailand on April 11 after
the Asean meeting was called off because of the Thai public demonstration.

Singapore is the third leg of his official familiarisation tour after
meeting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta on April 22 and
Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in Bandar Seri Begawan on April 29.

Najib is expected to arrive to the city-state by car via the Second Link
crossing in Tuas after a working visit to Nusajaya in Johor.

But his official function will only start on Friday with a welcoming
ceremony at the Istana, and followed by a four-eyed meeting with Prime Minister
Lee.

The two leaders will later join the bilateral meeting involving the top
official delegations from both sides.

Najib is also scheduled to perform Friday prayers at the Sultan Mosque,
Singapore's oldest, at Arab street before calling on Singapore President S.R.
Nathan at the Istana.

Former Singapore Prime Minister and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who just
recuperated from a bout of chicken pox, will also call on Najib later in the
day.

The prime minister and delegation will also attend an official banquet
hosted by Lee before departing back to Kuala Lumpur the same night.
-- BERNAMA