Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat postponed due to PM Wong’s Covid-19 infection
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PM Lawrence Wong said on Dec 3 that he was self-isolating at home after testing positive for Covid-19 for the first time.
PHOTOS: MARK CHEONG, LAWRENCE WONG/FACEBOOK
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SINGAPORE - The 11th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat, scheduled for Dec 8 and 9 in Malaysia’s administrative capital Putrajaya, has been postponed after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong tested positive for Covid-19.
In a Facebook post on Dec 4, PM Wong thanked Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, for a “lovely ‘Get Well Soon’ package”. An accompanying photograph showed a fruit basket delivered to the Istana.
“Was supposed to go to KL for our annual Leaders’ Retreat, but had to postpone it due to my Covid infection,” wrote PM Wong. “We are in the midst of finding new dates. Look forward to meeting again soon!”
On Dec 4, Datuk Seri Anwar told the country’s senate that a planned signing between both countries to formalise the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone
PM Wong had said on Dec 3 that he was self-isolating at home after testing positive for Covid-19
He said he woke up that morning with a bad sore throat after a stretch of overseas work trips.
While he was feeling fine overall, he would self-isolate while working from home, said PM Wong, who was previously co-chairman of Singapore’s multi-ministry task force on Covid-19.
The JS-SEZ deal that was to be sewn up at the Leaders’ Retreat aims to bring mutual benefits to businesses and people from both countries, including enhancing the flow of goods and people, improving the ease of doing business and supporting talent development. It was officially announced in October 2023
Malaysia and Singapore in January signed a memorandum of understanding to finalise an agreement to set up the zone by the end of 2024. Malaysian Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli had said in July that the final agreement was expected to be inked in September, but this was pushed back due to several sticking points.
In November, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee met Mr Rafizi to advance discussions on the JS-SEZ.
The “special meeting” of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia discussed the draft JS-SEZ joint agreement, which both countries will work towards signing during the 11th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat, a joint statement issued after the meeting said.
