SINGAPORE - As the key gateway between Singapore and Malaysia, Johor plays a crucial role in maintaining close cooperation and connectivity between the two countries, which was especially important during the Covid-19 pandemic, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday (July 20).
With support from the Johor ruler, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Singapore kept supply chains open across land borders with Johor during the crisis, PM Lee said, adding that Singapore also worked with the Sultan Ibrahim Johor Foundation to donate vaccines and medical supplies.
"Singapore and Johor are close neighbours and partners, linked by generations of friendship and kinship," said PM Lee at an official lunch held at the Istana on Wednesday in honour of Sultan Ibrahim, who is on a three-day visit to Singapore.
On Wednesday, Sultan Ibrahim was conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws by the National University of Singapore (NUS) at the Istana in recognition of his contributions to strengthen ties between Singapore and Malaysia.
President Halimah Yacob presided over the ceremony to confer the honorary degree, which is NUS' highest form of recognition for outstanding individuals who have rendered distinguished service and had great impact on a local and global scale.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Madam Halimah wished Sultan Ibrahim a fruitful visit in Singapore and said she had a good discussion on areas where Singapore and Johor could work together, such as connectivity and food security.
“Singapore and Malaysia are close neighbours with deep ties between our peoples, particularly in Johor. The daily traffic flows across our land borders bear testament to this. There are many areas where Singapore and Johor can work together,” she said.
In a press statement, NUS president Tan Eng Chye said: "Under Sultan Ibrahim's leadership, the close friendship between Singapore and Johor, and Malaysia, has grown deeper and stronger. Sultan Ibrahim is a distinguished leader and respected monarch of many outstanding attributes − a seasoned soldier, a benevolent philanthropist, and above all, a caring ruler who has the welfare of his subjects at heart."
Past recipients of the NUS Honorary Doctor of Laws include Professor Tommy Koh, Madam Halimah, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding prime minister.
Sultan Ibrahim is accompanied on his trip to Singapore by Johor Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah, Crown Prince of Johor Tunku Ismail Ibrahim, his wife Che' Puan Besar Khaleeda, Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi and other state officials.
During the visit, Sultan Ibrahim and his wife were also presented with a new orchid hybrid - the Dendrobium Ibrahim Zarith - named in their honour.
Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah wore a traditional baju kurung Johor as she accompanied Sultan Ibrahim on their official visit to Singapore.
The baju kurung - which was woven by Yayasan Warisan Johor, or the Johor Heritage Foundation - was in the colours of the Singapore flag, and she adorned the outfit with a specially commissioned pendant that was designed based on the national flower of Singapore, the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid.
The brooch that Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah wore (which was a gift to her by Sultan Ibrahim) on the first day of the visit to Singapore includes a design of her Royal Diadem, a crescent moon and seven stars - which are references of her cipher as the consort of Sultan Ibrahim as well as symbols of the royal family's Islamic faith.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Sultan Ibrahim said he hoped his visit would help bolster Johor-Singapore ties and accelerate economic cooperation for the benefit of people in Johor and Singapore.
"It is my sincere hope that my visit will further reinforce the bond of friendship and enhance continued collaboration for the benefit of our two peoples," he said.
"Over the years, the close cooperation and understanding with Singapore in many ways have benefited Johor, especially in its socio-economic development."
In his speech, PM Lee said both Singapore and Johor have moved decisively towards living with Covid-19.
"Cross-border travel has resumed. The Causeway is bustling once more. Family and friends are again visiting one another. Workers, business travellers and tourists are also making trips across the border, boosting the recovery of Singapore and Johor's economies," he said.
PM Lee said efforts to improve connectivity between Johor and Singapore are continuing, such as the start of a new direct ferry service between Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal, and added that he looked forward to the timely completion of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project.
He said: "I look forward to working with Sultan Ibrahim to promote further cooperation between Singapore and Johor. I am confident that with his support, relations between Singapore and Johor will continue to strengthen and deepen."
Sultan Ibrahim is slated to visit the site of the RTS Link terminus in Woodlands North as well as Sembawang Air Base and the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute during his trip.
