SINGAPORE - The Malaysian Association in Singapore (MASIS), which aims to bring the Malaysian community here closer together while deepening relationships with Singaporeans, was officially launched on Friday.

It will hold various activities including business networking meetings, student events as well as family outings.

Lawyer Abraham Vergis, 40, MASIS' inaugural president, said the association also aims to help Malaysians relocating to Singapore to settle in and to build better understanding and cooperation between the two countries. There are an estimated 400,000 Malaysians living in Singapore, according to the World Bank.

MASIS is strictly non-political and is open to students and people of Malaysian origin, the association said in a statement on Friday.

The launch event was held at the Agrobazaar Malaysia at Sultan Gate and attended by Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore, Dato' Husni Zai Yaacob.