Transcript of remarks by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Overseas Singaporean Reception at the Berkshire Hall in the Royal Brunei Jerudong Polo Club

               Thank you Ambassador Laurence Bay, Mrs Bay and the High Commissioner for bringing us all together. It’s been a very busy period for the High Commission, because we’ve had a series of high-level visits.

               Just two months ago, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was here for the Young Leaders Programme between Singapore and Brunei which is a very important programme. And just less than two weeks ago, as you know, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and several others were here for the wedding of Prince Abdul Mateen. So, it has been a very busy period for the Mission. And I am very happy that they brought us together. They have done excellent preparations for my trip.

               As Laurence mentioned, it is significant – first because it is my first overseas State Visit, and it is not incidental that I chose to visit Brunei – I was very happy to accept His Majesty's invitation. It reflects on our long and special relationship. And it also kicks off a year in which we celebrated our 40^th anniversary of relationships with Brunei. Our relationships in fact go well beyond 40 years. In fact, when Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Seri Begawan had first struck up a relationship, it was much earlier. But diplomatic relation started 40 years ago.

               This year is also the 40^th year of independence for Brunei. So, I'm also here to kick off a year of celebrating our 40 years of relationships and we had a few things planned for Brunei and Singapore – we are looking forward very much to that. But as Laurence has mentioned, this is the first event in my trip. My wife, Jane and I, together with Minister Desmond Lee and Mrs Lee, Minister Maliki and Sadiah, Minister of State Gan Siow Huang. We also have two of our Parliamentarians, both Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim and Mariam Jaafar.

               I really wanted to meet you as the first order of business upon arriving in Brunei. And look forward to just having a chit chat with you, learning from you about life in Brunei and also exchanging news of Singapore. I assume there's also some reasonably good food for us to partake in. But really it is an opportunity for us to chat. I should just say something important and simple, which is that all of you are actually very important in Brunei. And this applies also to Singaporeans overseas elsewhere. They are all very important in building the Singapore image abroad. In your case, building the image in everything that you do – whether it is at work, business, or with your families here. How we relate to Bruneians, how we conduct ourselves, how we extend Singapore's spirit appropriately – is important. So, you are all very important, contributing members of Singapore.

               But your experience here also enriches Singapore because you develop a new way of looking at Singapore, looking at the world and believe that diversity of perspectives in Singapore. So, I'm sure when you eventually return, you will be adding something to Singapore that comes from your experience, having lived overseas. And that too is valuable.

               Finally, let's look after each other while you're abroad. I'm sure that’s what you do – it's a close-knit community. Some of you actually came from quite some distance away – from Kuala Belait and other places. So, we really respect the fact that you had taken the trouble to come all the way. But as a Singaporean community, we also look after each other. And the Mission is of course always here to help you if you need any assistance. So, thank you once again, on behalf of everyone in my delegation. Thanks for taking the trouble to come. Let's enjoy talking to each other while having little titbits.