SINGAPOPE: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah granted an audience to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and four members of his cabinet in conjunction with the king's state visit to the republic today.
Present at the audience held at Shangri-La Hotel were Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and Lee's wife, Ho Ching.
Also present were Singapore's Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, National Development Minister Desmond Lee and Transport Minister S. Iswaran.
Their majesties were accompanied by Malaysian Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin and Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak.
After the 30-minute audience, the king and queen proceeded to a luncheon hosted by Lee and his wife.
Their majesties arrived here yesterday for the state visit, which will end on Friday.
The visit reflects the close bilateral ties between Malaysia and Singapore, which were first established 57 years ago.
Their majesties were expected to attend a state welcoming ceremony at the Istana today, before meeting Singapore President Halimah Yacob and attending a state banquet. — Bernama