New Sabah, Sarawak consulates among outcomes from leaders’ retreat

The Republic will open new consulates in Sabah and Sarawak, and also signed a new agreement with Malaysia confirming that commuters need to clear immigration only once when departing through the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.

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These were among the updates given by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim after their meeting on Dec 4 at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore hotel.

The two countries reached agreements in several fields, including on health cooperation and more collaboration in the fight against illicit drugs.

The leaders also spoke about longstanding bilateral issues on water, airspace and maritime boundaries. In a joint statement issued at the end of the retreat, both leaders reaffirmed to resolve these issues amicably and constructively, “in a spirit of mutual respect, and in accordance with the principles of international law”.

Here are 10 takeaways from the 12th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat:

NEW SINGAPORE CONSULATES IN SABAH AND SARAWAK

Malaysia has formally agreed to Singapore’s proposal to open consulates in Sabah and Sarawak — something that was raised at the 11th edition of the retreat in Putrajaya in January.

PM Wong said that the new consulates will allow Singapore to provide consular services to Singaporeans there, and deepen the ties between the people of both countries.

Singapore currently has two diplomatic missions in Malaysia. There is a high commission in Kuala Lumpur and a consulate in Johor Bahru that opened in 2009.

JOHOR BAHRU-SINGAPORE RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM LINK