Singapore and Malaysia 'building further' on strong economic partnership, says President Tharman

Singapore and Malaysia are actively deepening their strong economic ties, with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam highlighting that the two nations are "building on it further." Speaking during his first state visit to Malaysia, President Tharman pointed to concrete projects like the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link as testaments to this shared ambition.

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They reflect our mutual desire to grow the complementarity between our economies.

These initiatives, he explained, "reflect our mutual desire to grow the complementarity between our economies." The completion of the RTS Link, in particular, is expected to significantly boost exchanges in areas such as tourism, healthcare, and education, underscoring the interconnectedness of the two countries. President Tharman emphasized that the infrastructure development is underpinned by a "deeper foundation of social affinity."

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Ultimately, the physical and economic infrastructure we develop rests on that deeper foundation of social affinity.

He described the bilateral relationship as possessing a unique quality, noting that it has been a consistent choice across generations of leadership to focus on the future and collaborative building. Despite facing and resolving important issues stemming from their interdependence, both nations have prioritized positive cooperation. This forward-looking orientation, focused on mutual growth and shared interests, has forged a relationship that President Tharman called "a bit of a rarity in today’s world."

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difficult to find elsewhere

President Tharman also acknowledged the natural interconnection among their people, citing the many Singaporean families with ties across the border and the numerous Malaysians and Singaporeans who work and live in each other's countries. He stated that this "enduring sense of kinship and partnership" provides confidence in navigating an increasingly divided world, reinforcing their ability to rely on one another.

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We have also had important issues to resolve from time to time – issues that reflect the very interdependence of the two countries. But we have not let these issues affect our ability to work on positive and new areas of cooperation.