Singapore's President to make state visit to Malaysia next week

KUALA LUMPUR - Singapore’s President Halimah Yacob will make her first official state visit to Malaysia from March 20 to 22.

The visit, at the invitation of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, is also to reciprocate His Majesty’s state visit to Singapore in October 2022.

The President will be accompanied by her husband Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee during the visit.

His Majesty and the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah will receive her at the Istana Negara at a State Welcome Ceremony.

Singapore’s Foreign Ministry said following the ceremony, His Majesty and Halimah will plant a Gelam Tree (Melaleuca cajuputi) in the Istana courtyard.

Halimah and her husband will also witness an orchid naming ceremony where a new orchid hybrid - the Vanda Halimah Yacob Mohamed will be named in their honour. "This is the first time that a tree planting ceremony and an orchid naming ceremony have been incorporated into a state visit to Malaysia,” the ministry said in a statement to the media made available by the Singapore’s High Commission, here, today. Their Majesties will also host a state banquet in the President’s honour.

As part of her state visit, Halimah will receive a call from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In her capacity as Chancellor of the National University of Singapore, she will meet with the Sultan of Perak Sultan Sultan Nazrin Shah who is Chancellor of the University of Malaya.

According to the statement, the President will meet a group of Singaporean and Malaysian business leaders, and attend a reception hosted for overseas Singaporeans in Malaysia.

Halimah, who is also Patron of Girl Guides Singapore, will be hosted a visit to the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia by Her Majesty, the Raja Permaisuri Agong.

Also accompanying her on the state visit are the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs Dr Maliki Osman, Minister of State for Trade & Industry and Culture, Community and Youth Low Yen Ling, as well as Members of Parliament Murali Pillai, Xie Yao Quan, and Yeo Wan Ling.

During the president’s absence, Chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers, Eddie Teo will exercise the function of the Office of the President, the statement added. - BERNAMA