Malaysia PM Anwar to visit Singapore on Dec 4 for leaders’ retreat between two countries

The Singapore delegation will also include Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam.

Also present at the retreat will be Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu, and Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science and Technology Tan See Leng.

National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, and Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow will also be in the high-level delegation.

During the last leaders’ retreat in Putrajaya back in January this year, which was the first one between Mr Anwar and Mr Wong as prime ministers, both sides agreed on an “indicative timeline” on determining the precise location of their maritime boundaries in the Johor Strait.

Their joint statement also noted Singapore’s intention to open consulates in Sabah and Sarawak to further deepen the economic and people-to-people ties between Singapore and East Malaysia.

The retreat was supposed to be held in December last year, but was postponed after Mr Wong tested positive for COVID-19.

On a separate issue of airspace management, both sides also agreed that delegation arrangements for the provision of air traffic services over southern Peninsular Malaysia do not affect sovereignty.

The two leaders also gave an update on the implementation of the International Court of Justice judgment on Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, islets at the eastern entrance to the Singapore Strait.

TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS

As part of security operations for the retreat at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore hotel, police said earlier this week that they would be conducting security checks in the vicinity of the venue.

“Members of the public are advised to comply strictly with the instructions of the police and any non-compliance will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law,” they said.

To facilitate the hosting of the event, a section of Temasek Avenue and several lanes along Raffles Boulevard and Raffles Avenue will be closed from 10pm on Wednesday until 11.59pm on Thursday.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore will also establish a Temporary Restricted Area over the venue from 9am to 5.30pm on Thursday, prohibiting aerial activities like flying kites and unmanned aircraft such as drones within and into the area.