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Malaysia

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore - Malaysia

Overview

Singapore and Malaysia have a long-standing, broad and multifaceted relationship. Bilateral trade, investment, and tourism ties are robust. There are regular high-level exchanges such as the Leaders’ Retreat, Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) meetings on Iskandar Malaysia, and Ministerial level visits. Other interactions, including bilateral cultural events, have fostered stronger bonds between our countries.

Recent Highlights

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  • Minister (Foreign Affairs) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan made a working visit to Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur on 30 January 2020.Dr Vivian Balakrishnan had meetings with Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah, Malaysian Minister of Water, Land, and Natural Resources Dato’ Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Malaysian Economic Affairs Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin bin Ali, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke and then-Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
  • Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made a telephone call to Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on 1 March 2020. Prime Minister Lee congratulated Prime Minister Muhyiddin on his appointment as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia. Both sides reaffirmed the substantive and broad-based cooperation shared by Singapore and Malaysia, and looked forward to working together for continued mutual benefit.
  • In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin agreed in a telephone call on 17 March 2020 to establish the Singapore-Malaysia Special Working Committee on COVID-19. The Committee would be co-chaired by Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, and Malaysian Senior Minister and Minister of Defence Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad. The Special Working Committee would propose and coordinate joint mitigation plans to ensure the safe and sustainable movement of people, goods, and services between Malaysia and Singapore.
  • Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean had a telephone call with Malaysian Senior Minister and Minister of Defence Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on 19 March 2020. As the co-chairs of the Singapore-Malaysia Special Working Committee on COVID-19, they discussed coordination of both countries’ arrangements to safeguard the health of the citizens of Singapore and Malaysia, while minimising disruptions to our companies, workers and citizens.
  • Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made a phone call to Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on 24 May 2020 to express his greetings for Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Prime Minister Lee reaffirmed his friendship with Prime Minister Muhyiddin, and his strong support for the close cooperation between both countries.
  • Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke with Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to discuss the gradual and phased resumption of cross-border travel between Singapore and Malaysia on 26 June 2020. Both Prime Ministers agreed that any bilateral arrangement would have to include mutually agreed public health protocols, to preserve the public health and safety of citizens on both sides, while taking into account the medical resources available in both countries. Both sides agreed to establish a Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and a Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) to address the needs of different groups of cross-border travellers.
  • On 12 July 2020, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin called Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to convey his congratulations on the results of the Singapore General Election on 10 July 2020. The Prime Ministers welcomed the steadfast progress that both sides had made in a wide-ranging slate of bilateral initiatives, including cross-border connectivity projects and the movement of people.
  • Minister (Foreign Affairs) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein had a meeting at the Causeway on 26 July 2020. The two Ministers announced that Singapore and Malaysia had agreed on all the key aspects of the RGL and PCA, which would facilitate cross-border travel for official, business and work purposes between Singapore and Malaysia. The RGL and PCA were launched on 10 August 2020.
  • Singapore and Malaysia held a ceremony at the Causeway to mark the official resumption of the Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link Project on 30 July 2020.The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. At the ceremony, Minister (Transport) Ong Ye Kung and Malaysia’s Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong marked the resumption of the Project.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for conducting and managing diplomatic relations between Singapore and other countries and regions.

© 2025 Government of SingaporeLast updated 04 March 2025

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