Work in progress: An aerial view of the Bukit Chagar RTS Link station in Johor Baru.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia and Singapore's ties will remain strong and not likely to see any shift in relations that are set to get better with the completion of several projects such as the Johor Baru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS link) and the Special Economic Zone, say experts.
This is despite the handover in leadership slated for May 15 from Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Political pundit Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar said Singapore had sorted out its succession plan very well with Wong having strong support from fellow MPs to helm the prime minister's post.
"Relations with Malaysia will remain close and strong.
"Government leaders from both countries not only have good professional and official relations, they also relate well with each other on a personal level," he said when contacted.
Singapore has announced that Wong will take over as the country's next prime minister on May 15.
Wong takes over at a time when the world has just recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic but in the midst of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and grappling with inflation.
The island state is also seeing low population growth while in Parliament, the Opposition has more seats now since 1966, 10 out of 93.
In July, Singapore, known for its political stability, was rocked by a string of rare political scandals.
A senior minister was arrested in a corruption probe, the first in four decades to be implicated in such an investigation
Two lawmakers - one of them once tipped as a potential prime minister - resigned after it was revealed they were in an extramarital affair.
Former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-jin, 54, and fellow lawmaker Cheng Li Hui, 47, resigned from the party and the legislature over their "inappropriate relationship". Tan is married, while Cheng is single.
It has shocked residents of the city-state, which prides itself on its reputation for clean governance and has the highest paid leaders in the world.
Dr Tunku Mohar, who heads the political science department at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), acknowledged that Malaysia and Singapore have had their fair share of ups and downs over the years but this was normal in any relationship.
"There will be hiccups and even conflicts along the way, but leaders for both sides know very well how to settle issues amicably," he added.
Shahriman Lockman, a senior researcher at Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), also agreed, saying that there will not be much change in terms of tone and tenor of bilateral ties between Malaysia and Singapore.
"Singapore's ruling People's Action Party (PAP) political elite is very cohesive. There is deep consensus within the Singapore leadership on major policy issues.
"So you’re not going to see any major shift coming out on that side of the Causeway because of a new prime minister taking office," he said.
He added that the leadership on both sides of the Causeway know each other very well.
"Even His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, made it a point to make a state visit just before the transfer of power takes place.
"He has known Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for a long time, so this is a kind of a farewell visit.
"But the Singaporeans have been building up to this transfer for a while, so there aren’t any surprises. You’re going to see a lot of continuity after May 15," said Shahriman.
Political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said that relations between Malaysia and Singapore will continue to remain strong, particularly under the current leadership.
"Wong shares the same ideas and policies with his predecessor and understands that Malaysia is an important strategic partner in many aspects.
"He will make sure that ties remain strong," Sivamurugan said when contacted.
He also noted that His Majesty, Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, is from Johor which neighbours Singapore.
"Johor and Singapore have been sharing good relations over the years.
"The existing strong bonds between the two will add value to bilateral relations between Malaysia and Singapore," he said.
He also said that Wong understands Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's style of leadership which has been marked with closer ties.
Since helming the post of prime minister, Anwar has made several trips to Singapore which also includes inking several important agreements between the countries.
Among them were the RTS Link to connect Johor and Singapore and the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the field of entrepreneurship and a side letter to improve provisions under the Third Malaysia-Singapore Business Development Fund (MSBDF).
