KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Singapore share many common challenges and the solution is clearly to face them together.
Singaporean High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Menon said, beyond strengthening existing areas of cooperation, the two nations should work together on emerging areas such as sustainability, climate change, and digital economy.
"The (memoranda of understanding) signed on digital economy, green economy, and cybersecurity during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's January visit (to Singapore) are a positive start.
"Singapore is also keen to contribute to Malaysia's conservation efforts, and an MoU was signed between NParks and the Pahang Biodiversity Council on Cooperation in Flora and Wildlife Conservation in June this year.
"Such cooperation and interactions between our communities in Singapore and Malaysia are only made possible by our strong land, air, and sea connections.
"Singapore and Malaysian agencies have been working together to improve people-to-people flows between our countries, including expediting the immigration processes at the Johor-Singapore checkpoints. There has also been good progress on the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which is due to be completed in 2026," he said at the Singapore's 58th National Day reception.
Guest of honour at the event was Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Not merely a celebration of Singapore's National day, Vanu said the reception was a celebration of the shared heritage and intertwined destinies of the neighbours.
"As President Halimah Yacob said during her state visit in March, what Singapore and Malaysia can achieve together is only limited by our imagination and political will. My wish for this National Day is for Singaporeans and Malaysians to continue to find opportunities to interact, collaborate and learn from one another, as we work together — bekerja bersama-sama — towards our dreams of a better future.
Themed "Bersama (Together)", the reception saw some 1,200 guests, including Singaporeans, Malaysian government officials, the diplomatic corps and the private and non-governmental sectors.
In line with the theme, the reception focused on partnering with charities and social enterprises such as the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore; Women of Will, a social enterprise in Malaysia that empowers women from low-income families to establish their food businesses; and Art:Dis, an organisation in Singapore that empowers persons with disabilities through the arts.
The High Commission also distributed goodies and handicraft prepared by Women of Will.