Singapore, Malaysia to discuss border reopening during Muhyiddin's May 4 visit

Published Tue, Apr 13, 2021 · 12:39 PM

MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will be visiting Singapore on May 4 to meet Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Both leaders are expected to discuss the reopening of the border, among other things, Malaysian newspaper The Star reported.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was quoted by the paper as saying that even with the Johor government's desire to reopen the border within the next two months, this still needs Singapore's approval.

He added that the matter was briefly discussed when Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan visited Malaysia last month.

"I will make sure that this is in the agenda to be discussed between Muhyiddin and Lee", Mr Hishammuddin said.

On other matters, he said the appointment of the Malaysian High Commissioner is still under process, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic has made it difficult to send a representative to fill the High Commissioner position in Singapore.

Ever since Zainol Rahim Zainuddin retired in April last year, the High Commissioner post has been vacant. The Malaysian High Commission in Singapore is currently headed by a charge d'affaires.