Small countries need to be friends with one another as it is a “very dangerous, big world”, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told Brunei-based Singaporeans during a visit to attend the golden jubilee celebration of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s accession to the throne.

Speaking at a reception with the Singaporean community in Bandar Seri Begawan on Thursday (Oct 06), Mr Lee affirmed the Republic’s close ties with Brunei, saying that they have been “friends for a very long time”.

He recalled how Sultan Hassanal’s father – the Sri Begawan – and the late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew got to know each other and became friends when both countries were negotiating to enter Malaysia.

“In the end, Singapore entered Malaysia and Brunei did not. After some time, Singapore left from Malaysia,” said PM Lee.

“When Mr Lee next met the Sri Begawan, they both knew that one had made one choice and one had made a different choice, and both have eventually come to the same conclusion.”

Singapore and Brunei enjoy a long-standing and multi-faceted relationship with cooperation that spans the economic, defence, and educational spheres. Both countries work closely together in multilateral forums such as the Association of South-East Asian Nations.

Both countries have a Currency Interchangeability Agreement, under which the monetary authorities of both nations will accept the currency issued by the other, and to exchange it at par and without charge, into their own currency.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has also been training in Temburong for several years. In a Facebook post on Friday, Mr Lee thanked the SAF families for the sacrifices they have made in relocating to Brunei.

In his remarks on Thursday, Mr Lee also gave the Brunei-based Singaporeans an update on developments at home,

He reassured them that the country is “on the right track, and heading in the right direction” in transforming and restructuring its economy.

“This year, we should make more than 2.5 per cent growth… some people are a bit concerned about jobs, cost of living, what would the future mean. But I think that we are on the right track, and we are heading in the right direction,” he said.

Part of moving in the right direction, Mr Lee added, is having Singaporeans working overseas help the Republic “fit in the world and be friends with our countries around us”.

On Friday, Mr Lee will visit SAF soldiers who are training in Temburong, as well as meet with the Sultan before attending a royal banquet. Regional leaders and royalty from other countries are also expected to attend the banquet.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by LOUISA TANG

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