Advertisement

PM Lee Hsien Loong to meet Mahathir in Malaysia on Saturday

Singapore’s Primer Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Wednesday (16 May) that he was planning to meet his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad in Malaysia on Saturday. (PHOTOS: Associated Press)
Singapore’s Primer Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Wednesday (16 May) that he was planning to meet his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad in Malaysia on Saturday. (PHOTOS: Associated Press)

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Wednesday (16 May) that he plans to meet his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad in Malaysia this Saturday.

Speaking in Parliament, Lee noted the historic changes in Malaysia following the country’s general election last Wednesday.

In the election, Mahathir’s Pakatan Harapan alliance defeated the incumbent Barisan Nasional coalition headed by former prime minister Najib Razak. This marked the country’s first change of government since its independence in 1957.

“The two countries have deep historical, economic and people-to-people ties. We hope that Malaysia is stable and prosperous. We have enjoyed good relations with Malaysia (under Najib) and cooperated on major projects that have benefitted both sides,” said Lee.

He told the House that he had worked with Mahathir and several members of his team in the past and had completed joint projects with Malaysia, such as the Tuas Second Link, when the 92-year-old was last prime minister.

The 66-year-old Lee said that he also knows 70-year-old veteran Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim well, from the time when they both were deputy prime ministers. Lee’s comments came after Anwar received a full official pardon for his past convictions and was released from a rehabilitation hospital in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday morning.

“The expectations of a new Malaysian government are very high, and I think Dr Mahathir will be very busy in the days to come… I look forward to working with him again for mutual benefit,” Lee added.

Related stories:

MOE to work with ‘popular schools’ to ensure they don’t become ‘closed circles’: PM Lee

New leader to ‘certainly’ emerge before next General Election: PM Lee Hsien Loong