Transcript of Remarks by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Overseas Singaporean Reception at the High Commission of Singapore in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 13 July 2026

A very good evening to my fellow Singaporeans, and thank you for joining us tonight.

Thank you, High Commissioner Vanu, for your kind introduction, and to your team for the thoughtfulness with which you have arranged my visit. I am happy to be here with my wife, Jane Ittogi, and our delegation – Minister Grace Fu, Minister of State Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, Mayor Denise Phua, and Members of Parliament Edward Chia and Nadia Samdin.

There has always been an ease and familiarity with being in Malaysia. That comes naturally from our being immediate neighbours, and the common history that we had – in fact going back to before British colonial rule, and extending to the tumultuous 1960s and eventual Separation.

The relationship since Independence has had its complications at times. But the main story of Singapore-Malaysia relations has been one of cooperation across many fields – cooperation underpinned by the belief that we are each better when we work together, and grow together.

Both Singapore and Malaysia today would indeed be much weaker nations if either one of us had failed in its development journey, or if either had failed to foster a strong national identity of its own and maintain peace at home. We have depended on each other succeeding.

When I met His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim and PM Anwar earlier today, we each spoke of the continuing strength of the Singapore-Malaysia relationship. Our economies are intertwined, and we are embarking on new areas of cooperation – like the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link, and potentially, significant renewable energy imports.

But it is the human connections that make our economic connections resilient.

The many Singaporeans, I am told about 120,000, who live and work in Malaysia are hence important in keeping our friendly and positive bilateral relations going.

Some of you here tonight have come from outside Kuala Lumpur, from Negeri Sembilan and Selangor. You are doing very different things in Malaysia – some in energy, some in IT or finance, some in healthcare, in retail, others in arts and culture.

Each of you is playing that important role – whether as spouses with children growing up here, as students studying to be religious teachers or to embark on other pathways, or as professionals who will eventually go home or to another part of the world.

Mr Muhammad Taufiq bin Yahya, who is here tonight with his wife and five children, is an example. Taufiq is a social entrepreneur and co‑founder of Kowabunga! Global, an education and sustainability enterprise that grew from a small student‑care start‑up in Singapore. Today, it serves thousands of children and families, particularly from low‑income and single‑parent households, giving them opportunities in environmental stewardship and other areas.

Ms Carole Tan operates Tannin Hill, a tea gallery that recently relocated to Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad. Her gallery has helped introduce Chinese tea culture to a younger audience through curated tastings, in a contemporary café-style setting.

And Mr Ronnie Chan, an Airbus Helicopters simulator flight instructor who has worked in Subang, Selangor, since 2007. A former Republic of Singapore Air Force military pilot, Ronnie has continued to pursue his passion for flying in Malaysia, as an instructor.

Through each and every one of you, Singapore is building up our friendship with Malaysia. And as Singaporeans, you are both contributing and learning from your experiences in Malaysia.

I hope all of you will stay connected – not just to one another, but to the Malaysians you work with, have fun with, and live with. And whether you choose to live here or eventually return, I hope you find ways to bring your perspectives back to Singapore. They will add a valuable dimension to the conversations on Singapore and its future that we have back home.

My wife and I, and my delegation are very glad to be spending this evening with you, and look forward to talking more.