Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during his introductory visit, emphasising the importance of close cooperation in an uncertain world.
Singapore’s Minister for Defence, Mr Chan Chun Sing, is in Malaysia for a two-day introductory visit from 25 to 26 August 2025. On 25 August, he met Malaysian Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, at the Parliament in Kuala Lumpur.
During their meeting, both leaders reaffirmed the longstanding and close bilateral relationship between Singapore and Malaysia. They discussed regional security developments, including the situation along the Thailand–Cambodia border, and reiterated the importance of collaboration in navigating global uncertainties.
On 26 August, Mr Chan delivered a keynote address at the National Centre for Defence Studies (PUSPAHANAS) under Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence. He highlighted the importance of Singapore and Malaysia working together to strengthen regional stability. “There is a Malay proverb: berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing. As close neighbours, our countries are interdependent, and our close ties, collective efforts, and shared responsibility can help us both navigate challenging times to ensure our mutual success,” he said.
Mr Chan also pointed to strong economic links, including the upcoming Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), as well as longstanding defence cooperation through joint exercises such as Malapura and Semangat Bersatu. He emphasised that both nations share more commonalities than differences, and stressed the need to build trust across generations through student, government, and military exchanges.
The visit underscores Singapore and Malaysia’s commitment to deepening cooperation across defence, security, and economic domains, while maintaining dialogue on regional challenges.
Source: MINDEF
