Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed visited Lingga in the Riau Islands Province (KEPRI) on 13 August 2009, in conjunction with his visit to KEPRI from 12 - 14 August 2009. This was SMS Zainul's first visit to Lingga, the capital of the Riau-Lingga Sultanate in the 19th century.
SMS Zainul was given a royal welcome, including a dance and a lunch done in the traditional style at Damnah Palace in Daik, the administrative and historical capital located in the main island of Lingga. The ceremony was conducted in a reconstructed palace next to the ruins of the original palace. The ruins of a 44-room annex built by Sultan Muhammad Shah are also located in the palace grounds.
While in Lingga, SMS Zainul also visited the Lingga Museum, which contained old artefacts depicting the historical linkages between Lingga and Singapore during the period of the Johor-Riau-Lingga Sultanate.
SMS Zainul also discussed with the Bupati of Lingga three possible areas of cooperation, namely the exchange of artefacts for exhibition, cultural performances and the sustainability of a heritage trail for the areas of the former Sultanate.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
14 AUGUST 2009