Menon (left) and Loke at the reception in Kuala Lumpur celebrating Singapore’s 58th National Day.
MALAYSIA and Singapore should work together on sustainability, climate change and the digital economy in addition to strengthening existing areas of cooperation.
Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon said, “Such cooperation and interactions between our communities in Singapore and Malaysia are only made possible by our strong land, air, and sea connections.”
He said this in a speech at a National Day reception organised by the Singapore High Commission to celebrate the island republic’s 58th National Day.
The reception, which was hosted by Menon and his wife Jayanthi, was themed “Bersama” (Together), underscoring the strong ties between the people of Singapore and Malaysia and emphasising that both countries will work together to address future challenges.
The reception held at Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur was attended by more than 1,200 guests, including guest of honour Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
According to a press statement, Menon in his National Day speech said, “Singapore and Malaysia 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.”
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 and Art:Dis.
Women of Will is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Malaysia that empowers women from low-income families to establish their food businesses.
Art:Dis is an organisation in Singapore empowering persons with disabilities through the arts.
The High Commission distributed goodies and handicraft prepared by Women of Will, which is also involved with helping the B40 community and focused on eradicating poverty.
The installation panels on display provided information on Singapore’s efforts in building a sustainable living environment, and its partnership with Malaysia on issues such as the green economy and wildlife conservation.
Guests were also treated to a performance by 27-year-old Singaporean musician Joshua German.
A keen jazz and classical pianist, German did not allow his autism to stop him from becoming a talented musician.
German performed nine songs, including famous Singapore National Day songs such as Home, and well-known numbers such as What A Wonderful World.
