Singapore—In keeping with the yearly tradition of officials from Singapore visiting the Sultan of Johor to attend the Hari Raya open house, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan were in Johor on Wednesday, June 5, along with their wives.
The visit, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is reflective of the warm relations between Singapore and Malaysia.
The MFA announced the visit in a press statement which read, “Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, and their spouses attended the Hari Raya Open House hosted by the Sultan of Johor, DYMM Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, at the Istana Bukit Serene earlier today. This visit continues the annual tradition of Singapore’s leaders attending the Sultan’s Hari Raya Open House, and reflects the warm relations between Singapore and Johor.”
The statement included photos of DPM Heng and Dr Balakrishnan having a joint audience with the Sultan of Johor, DYMM Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, wherein the Crown Prince of Johor was also present, as well as a photo of the Singaporean ministers and their wives standing with the Sultan and the Queen Consort of Johor, Permaisuri Johor DYMM Raja Zarith Sofiah.
Dr Balakrishnan wrote about the visit on his Facebook page. “DPM Heng Swee Keat, Hwee Nee, Joy and I called on the Sultan and Permaisuri Johor to convey our Hari Raya greetings. We spent some time with the Royal Family catching up over a delicious lunch.
The Sultan’s Open House is an annual tradition that Singapore’s leaders have regularly attended, and reflects the warm and close relations between Singapore and Johor.”
Posted by Vivian Balakrishnan on Tuesday, 4 June 2019
On his page, DPM Heng also posted photos from Channel NewsAsia (CNA) of the visit, and wrote, “Attended the Sultan of Johor’s Hari Raya Open House today. We were warmly received by the Sultan and his wife. We enjoyed the hospitality and the delicious lunch.”
The Sultan also posted photos of the visit on his Facebook page, which was captioned, “A high-powered Singapore government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat called on Their Majesties Tuanku Sultan and Tuanku Permaisuri Johor at Istana Bukit Serene in Johor Bahru today (6th June).
The visit is a long-standing practice and symbolic of the warm and close bonds of friendship enjoyed by Johor and Singapore.”
SULTAN JOHOR TERIMA KUNJUNGAN HORMAT TIMBALAN PERDANA MENTERI SINGAPURA SEMPENA AIDILFITRIDYMM Sultan Johor Sultan…
Posted by Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar on Tuesday, 4 June 2019
Posted by Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar on Tuesday, 4 June 2019
SULTAN JOHOR TERIMA KUNJUNGAN HORMAT TIMBALAN PERDANA MENTERI SINGAPURA SEMPENA AIDILFITRIDYMM Sultan Johor Sultan…
Posted by Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar on Tuesday, 4 June 2019
/ TISG