MFA Press Statement: Visit by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli to Negara Brunei Darussalam, 17 to 18 April 2015

                    Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli visited Negara Brunei Darussalam from 17 to 18 April 2015.

                    On 18 April, Minister Masagos had an audience with the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah where the warm friendship between the two countries and the importance of expanding cooperation in new fields was reaffirmed.  Minister Masagos expressed his appreciation for His Majesty’s presence at the State Funeral Service for the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. He also mentioned that he looked forward to His Majesty’s coming visits to Singapore for the opening ceremony of the Southeast Asian Games 2015 and the National Day Parade. Minister Masagos also had meetings with the State Mufti, Pehin Abdul Aziz bin Juned, and Minister for Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Hazair bin Haji Abdullah.

                While in Brunei, Minister Masagos attended the opening ceremony of the Islamic Literature Festival 2015, which was organised for the first time in Brunei Darussalam.  Singapore had sent a delegation of nine participants. The event opens a new platform for Singapore and Brunei to work together in Islamic Malay literature, which is a niche but important area for both countries.

                    He also co-launched a new book, “Rainforest Plants and Flowers of Brunei Darussalam,” with Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Pehin Yahya bin Haji Bakar.  The book is a joint collaboration between the Forestry Department of Brunei Darussalam and the Singapore Botanical Gardens, following from the Memorandum of Understanding on environmental cooperation that was signed during President Tony Tan’s State Visit to Brunei Darussalam in May 2013.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

18 APRIL 2015