More flights to Langkawi and Penang
FIREFLY will be introducing additional flights from Senai International Airport, Johor to Langkawi and Penang, from May 27 to June 12 in conjunction with the coming school holidays.
“This added service will give our southern passengers wiser choices in spending valuable time with their children. It serves as a perfect opportunity for families to take a break and head up north to Langkawi for a family holiday,” said Firefly head of marketing and communications Angelina Fernandez.
Firefly also offers flights between Johor Baru and Kuching, and between Johor Baru and Kota Kinabalu.
The flights will commence operations on May 19 and June 16 respectively. Both sectors will have a frequency of 14 flights weekly.
For details, visit www.fireflyz.com.my
-News courtesy of The Star-
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Cross-border transport gets boost
Cross-border transport gets boost
From July, taxis plying both sides of the Singapore-Malaysia border will be able to pick up and drop off passengers anywhere in their domestic countries.
The implementation date of this taxi rule change was agreed on Wednesday at the eighth working meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee.
Currently, cross-border taxis are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at just two places - Ban San Street near Bugis, and Pasar Bakti terminal in Johor.
There are some 400 authorised cabs which offer cross-border services - 200 in Singapore and 200 in Malaysia.
The Joint Ministerial Committee also agreed to boost connectivity by further increasing the quota for cross border bus services.
It noted that additional cross-border bus services between Singapore and Iskandar Malaysia have been approved and are being implemented.
A joint engineering study for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore was also approved.
The statement said officials from both sides will endeavour to gather international best practices in the implementation of a dual co-located Customers, Immigration and Quarantine system to complement the RTS link.
The Joint Ministerial Committee noted with satisfaction that Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Temasek Holdings have progressed in the discussion on the development of an iconic project with a wellness theme in Iskandar Malaysia.
The project is targeted to be launched in May 2011.
The statement also said the river cleaning project in the Iskandar Malaysia is progressing well.
The Joint Ministerial Committee also endorsed the recommendations by the Tourism Work Group on the development and marketing of a trans-boundary, joint eco-tourism attraction involving Singapore's Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Malaysia's three Ramsar sites of Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjung Piai.
The first phase will involve the twinning of Pulau Kukup and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
From July, taxis plying both sides of the Singapore-Malaysia border will be able to pick up and drop off passengers anywhere in their domestic countries.
The implementation date of this taxi rule change was agreed on Wednesday at the eighth working meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee.
Currently, cross-border taxis are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at just two places - Ban San Street near Bugis, and Pasar Bakti terminal in Johor.
There are some 400 authorised cabs which offer cross-border services - 200 in Singapore and 200 in Malaysia.
The Joint Ministerial Committee also agreed to boost connectivity by further increasing the quota for cross border bus services.
It noted that additional cross-border bus services between Singapore and Iskandar Malaysia have been approved and are being implemented.
A joint engineering study for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore was also approved.
The statement said officials from both sides will endeavour to gather international best practices in the implementation of a dual co-located Customers, Immigration and Quarantine system to complement the RTS link.
The Joint Ministerial Committee noted with satisfaction that Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Temasek Holdings have progressed in the discussion on the development of an iconic project with a wellness theme in Iskandar Malaysia.
The project is targeted to be launched in May 2011.
The statement also said the river cleaning project in the Iskandar Malaysia is progressing well.
The Joint Ministerial Committee also endorsed the recommendations by the Tourism Work Group on the development and marketing of a trans-boundary, joint eco-tourism attraction involving Singapore's Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Malaysia's three Ramsar sites of Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjung Piai.
The first phase will involve the twinning of Pulau Kukup and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Sunday, 27 March 2011
CW5 - Cross Border Bus
New cross border bus service launched on 27 March 2011
JB -- Newton Circus (Singapore)
http://www.causewaylink.com.my/
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Johor Bahru Events
Costume party
Get transported back to the 80’s by dressing in your 80’s costume at the Polo Lounge in Mutiara Hotel Johor Baru tomorrow, March 25, from 9pm onwards and stand a chance to win a complimentary drink. For details and reservations, please call 07-3300300 or email at fbjb@mutiarahotels.com
Photography contest
Stand a chance to win Sutera Mall cash voucher up to RM1,000 by participating in the Sutera Mall photographic contest with scenery as the contest theme. Photographs must be submitted by March 28. For more details, call 07-558 9009.
Cute baby contest
Stand a chance to win a Sutera Mall cash voucher of up to RM500 by joining in the Sutera Mall Cutest Photogenic Baby Contest. Photographs of your babies should be submitted before March 27. For more details, call 07-558 9009.
Jazz dance
Johor Baru Chinese Association holds jazz dance classes on Mondays from 11am-12pm. For details, call 07-278 8999.
-Info courtesy of The Star-
Get transported back to the 80’s by dressing in your 80’s costume at the Polo Lounge in Mutiara Hotel Johor Baru tomorrow, March 25, from 9pm onwards and stand a chance to win a complimentary drink. For details and reservations, please call 07-3300300 or email at fbjb@mutiarahotels.com
Photography contest
Stand a chance to win Sutera Mall cash voucher up to RM1,000 by participating in the Sutera Mall photographic contest with scenery as the contest theme. Photographs must be submitted by March 28. For more details, call 07-558 9009.
Cute baby contest
Stand a chance to win a Sutera Mall cash voucher of up to RM500 by joining in the Sutera Mall Cutest Photogenic Baby Contest. Photographs of your babies should be submitted before March 27. For more details, call 07-558 9009.
Jazz dance
Johor Baru Chinese Association holds jazz dance classes on Mondays from 11am-12pm. For details, call 07-278 8999.
-Info courtesy of The Star-
14-hour water cut due to pipe works
14-hour water cut due to pipe works
There will be a 14-hour water disruption from 10.00am until 11.59pm on March 26 due to pipe relocation works.
The areas affected are: Senai Airport and Quarters, Sofitel Hotel, Palm Resort, Senai Industry 3, Senai Industry 4, the whole of Pekan Senai,Taman Senai, Taman Damai, Taman Bukit Senang, Taman Angkasa, Taman Bahagia, Taman Dasa, Senai Police Station, Taman Jaya Sepakat, Kampung Jaya Sepakat, Kampung Pasir Senai, Taman Aman, Taman Dewani, Taman Beringin.
Other areas affected include Kampung Baru, Senai Kampung Melayu, Rumah Rakyat Senai, Ikram, Taman Senai Utama, LLM Office, Skudai Toll Plaza, Taman Sri Senai, Taman Sempena, Taman Bintang, Taman Bintang Utama, Taman Mewah, Taman Selesa, Taman Handal, Taman Senai Jaya, Taman Senai Baru, the whole of Saleng.
Syarikat Air Johor Sdn Bhd (SAJ) corporate communications manager Jamaluddin Jalil advised residents around Senai to store adequate water.
“Those who have further enquiries about the water disruption should contact SAJ’s toll free line at 1 800 88 7474 or SMS to 019-772 7474,” he said.
Apart from callin the utility company, the public can also forward their enquiries through email at customer.care@saj.com.my.
-News courtesy of The Star-
There will be a 14-hour water disruption from 10.00am until 11.59pm on March 26 due to pipe relocation works.
The areas affected are: Senai Airport and Quarters, Sofitel Hotel, Palm Resort, Senai Industry 3, Senai Industry 4, the whole of Pekan Senai,Taman Senai, Taman Damai, Taman Bukit Senang, Taman Angkasa, Taman Bahagia, Taman Dasa, Senai Police Station, Taman Jaya Sepakat, Kampung Jaya Sepakat, Kampung Pasir Senai, Taman Aman, Taman Dewani, Taman Beringin.
Other areas affected include Kampung Baru, Senai Kampung Melayu, Rumah Rakyat Senai, Ikram, Taman Senai Utama, LLM Office, Skudai Toll Plaza, Taman Sri Senai, Taman Sempena, Taman Bintang, Taman Bintang Utama, Taman Mewah, Taman Selesa, Taman Handal, Taman Senai Jaya, Taman Senai Baru, the whole of Saleng.
Syarikat Air Johor Sdn Bhd (SAJ) corporate communications manager Jamaluddin Jalil advised residents around Senai to store adequate water.
“Those who have further enquiries about the water disruption should contact SAJ’s toll free line at 1 800 88 7474 or SMS to 019-772 7474,” he said.
Apart from callin the utility company, the public can also forward their enquiries through email at customer.care@saj.com.my.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Johor Bahru Events
Board games competition
Bring your family and friends to Skudai Parade Johor Baru on March 19, as there will be a Giant Snake and Ladder competition starting from 2pm to 4pm. For details, call 07-5588996/7.
Education fair
Those who wish to further their studies to higher institution can head to Persada Johor Baru for the Facon Education Fair organised by Facon Exhibitions Sdn. Bhd. The public can obtain information on suitable programs and institution of higher learning to further their education on until tomorrow at 11am to 6pm. For details, call 07-219 8888.
-Info courtesy of The Star-
Bring your family and friends to Skudai Parade Johor Baru on March 19, as there will be a Giant Snake and Ladder competition starting from 2pm to 4pm. For details, call 07-5588996/7.
Education fair
Those who wish to further their studies to higher institution can head to Persada Johor Baru for the Facon Education Fair organised by Facon Exhibitions Sdn. Bhd. The public can obtain information on suitable programs and institution of higher learning to further their education on until tomorrow at 11am to 6pm. For details, call 07-219 8888.
-Info courtesy of The Star-
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Book discount
Book discount
Calling all book lovers to enjoy book discount as high as 90% at Plaza Pelagi Johor Baru as there will be a Popular book fair until March 20. For details, call 07-3403014 (Ma’mur).
-News courtesy of The Star-
Calling all book lovers to enjoy book discount as high as 90% at Plaza Pelagi Johor Baru as there will be a Popular book fair until March 20. For details, call 07-3403014 (Ma’mur).
-News courtesy of The Star-
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Taking Tangkak higher
Taking Tangkak higher
THE Tourism Ministry wants Tangkak to be promoted as a textile shopping haven in a move to boost the country’s industrial tourism sector.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the town with its large number of textile retailers has a potential to be a popular textile hub in the region.
She said Tangkak used to be a popular textile centre in the 70s and 80s but lost its popularity after places like Nilai in Negeri Sembilan, was developed.
“Due to stiff competition from these new business areas, that also focused on selling textile and fabrics, Tangkak has become less attractive to shoppers.
“However, we now planning to bring back the popularity and make Tangkak a major tourist textile shopping spot of the country,” she said after launching the Tangkak Textile Festival 2011 recently.
Dr Ng said besides fabrics and textiles, she also wanted the town to have tailors where dresses and curtains could be made fast for the shoppers.
She said many shops in Tangkak sold curtain fabrics and urged traders and designers create and sell ready-made curtains.
Dr Ng added that at the same time, the ministry also wanted the local authority to set up food stalls and restaurants serving dishes that are unique to the area.
“People can name the dishes as Tangkak mee, Tangkak rojak or Tangkak fried rice that should be delicious and cheap.”
She also praised the Ledang district office and the Tangkak district council as well as all textile traders in town for organising the textile festival.
Dr Ng said the Tangkak textile festival from March 3 – 6 would also be promoted as an annual tourism event.
A section of the road in the town would be closed to all traffic to accommodate the retailers.
“We want shoppers and tourists to shop and walk along the road without interference from moving vehicles and encourage the traders to organise fashion shows and exhibitions to promote their textiles and curtains during the festival,” she added.
-News courtesy of The Star-
THE Tourism Ministry wants Tangkak to be promoted as a textile shopping haven in a move to boost the country’s industrial tourism sector.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the town with its large number of textile retailers has a potential to be a popular textile hub in the region.
She said Tangkak used to be a popular textile centre in the 70s and 80s but lost its popularity after places like Nilai in Negeri Sembilan, was developed.
“Due to stiff competition from these new business areas, that also focused on selling textile and fabrics, Tangkak has become less attractive to shoppers.
“However, we now planning to bring back the popularity and make Tangkak a major tourist textile shopping spot of the country,” she said after launching the Tangkak Textile Festival 2011 recently.
Dr Ng said besides fabrics and textiles, she also wanted the town to have tailors where dresses and curtains could be made fast for the shoppers.
She said many shops in Tangkak sold curtain fabrics and urged traders and designers create and sell ready-made curtains.
Dr Ng added that at the same time, the ministry also wanted the local authority to set up food stalls and restaurants serving dishes that are unique to the area.
“People can name the dishes as Tangkak mee, Tangkak rojak or Tangkak fried rice that should be delicious and cheap.”
She also praised the Ledang district office and the Tangkak district council as well as all textile traders in town for organising the textile festival.
Dr Ng said the Tangkak textile festival from March 3 – 6 would also be promoted as an annual tourism event.
A section of the road in the town would be closed to all traffic to accommodate the retailers.
“We want shoppers and tourists to shop and walk along the road without interference from moving vehicles and encourage the traders to organise fashion shows and exhibitions to promote their textiles and curtains during the festival,” she added.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Sunday, 6 March 2011
Asian Legoland in the works
Asian Legoland in the works
Builders are putting together 15,000 models for Legoland Malaysia, set to open in Johor Baru next year.
THE Taj Mahal is almost done, while Holy Light Church in Johor Baru and the Malaysian High Court have been completed.
But the biggest challenge may simply be carrying them out of the workshop.
At the Model Building Centre in Nusa Cemerlang Industrial Park at Nusajaya in Johor Baru, a team of 32 builders, the youngest of whom is 22, is labouring with some unusual materials – 30 million Lego bricks.
Inside the nondescript two-storey building, each builder sits at his or her workstation working on different models. The hum of machines is noticeably absent, as each model is painstakingly put together by hand.
Silver-coloured tubes hang overhead to suck in fumes from the glue used to put the bricks together. Different piles of bricks are laid out in nearby cartons.
The builders are working day and night to complete 15,000 Lego model structures for the RM720 million Legoland Malaysia, which is slated to open late next year.
Singaporeans will be able to get there via the Tuas Second Link, which is just a 15-minute drive from the park.
Other iconic Asian structures you can expect to see include the Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin buildings in the world.
The Taj Mahal alone required 42,500 bricks and 3,000 man-hours to assemble.
The 31ha attraction will be the sixth Legoland theme park in the world and the only one in Asia. The five parks had a combined attendance of more than 6.5 million visitors last year.
Lego is a line of construction toys first made in Denmark in the 1940s.
The Malaysian builders were selected from 1,000 participants in two competitions held in Malaysia in the last two years.
The first six successful candidates, termed pioneers, attended a 10-week training programme at Legoland California on the AtoZ of the process, from design and sketching to assembling.
One of them is supervisor Mohamed Firdaus, 26, who gave up a job as an engineering research assistant to join the Lego team.
“You learn something new every day. There is always another way to build,” he says. He has been a Lego model builder for one-and-a-half years.
The job sounds remarkably similar to constructing an actual building these days, using special software to generate a 3-D version of the structure and a Lego graph before the actual construction.
“It requires a lot of planning so that you don’t waste man-hours. You also need to take the number of bricks required and the weight into consideration, because they must be moved eventually,” says Mohamed.
Khairunnadia Kamarudin, 25, is another of the six pioneers and one of seven women in the team of builders.
“It was quite hard and tedious at first. But Lego models are now a medium for me to express my knowledge and patience,” says Khairunnadia, who studied industrial design at school in Malaysia.
Legoland Malaysia is one of many projects in the Iskandar development region (now known as Iskandar Malaysia), which the Malaysian Government wants to build as an economic, leisure and residential hub.
Legoland will be the centrepiece of Medini Lifestyle, a lifestyle and entertainment hub.
Catering to families with children between the ages of two and 12, the park will feature more than 40 rides and attractions.
While prices have not been set, developers say they will be competitive.
The likes of Universal Studios Singapore charges S$66 (RM158) for a one-day adult pass on weekdays, while Hong Kong Disneyland charges about HKD$57 (RM136).
Siegfried Borst, senior director of operations for the park, is counting on the “universal appeal” of Lego to draw visitors.
“Our target market is children aged two to 12, and fortunately, there are many more children being born every year,” he says. – The Sunday Times/ANN
-News courtesy of The Star-
Builders are putting together 15,000 models for Legoland Malaysia, set to open in Johor Baru next year.
THE Taj Mahal is almost done, while Holy Light Church in Johor Baru and the Malaysian High Court have been completed.
But the biggest challenge may simply be carrying them out of the workshop.
At the Model Building Centre in Nusa Cemerlang Industrial Park at Nusajaya in Johor Baru, a team of 32 builders, the youngest of whom is 22, is labouring with some unusual materials – 30 million Lego bricks.
Inside the nondescript two-storey building, each builder sits at his or her workstation working on different models. The hum of machines is noticeably absent, as each model is painstakingly put together by hand.
Silver-coloured tubes hang overhead to suck in fumes from the glue used to put the bricks together. Different piles of bricks are laid out in nearby cartons.
The builders are working day and night to complete 15,000 Lego model structures for the RM720 million Legoland Malaysia, which is slated to open late next year.
Singaporeans will be able to get there via the Tuas Second Link, which is just a 15-minute drive from the park.
Other iconic Asian structures you can expect to see include the Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin buildings in the world.
The Taj Mahal alone required 42,500 bricks and 3,000 man-hours to assemble.
The 31ha attraction will be the sixth Legoland theme park in the world and the only one in Asia. The five parks had a combined attendance of more than 6.5 million visitors last year.
Lego is a line of construction toys first made in Denmark in the 1940s.
The Malaysian builders were selected from 1,000 participants in two competitions held in Malaysia in the last two years.
The first six successful candidates, termed pioneers, attended a 10-week training programme at Legoland California on the AtoZ of the process, from design and sketching to assembling.
One of them is supervisor Mohamed Firdaus, 26, who gave up a job as an engineering research assistant to join the Lego team.
“You learn something new every day. There is always another way to build,” he says. He has been a Lego model builder for one-and-a-half years.
The job sounds remarkably similar to constructing an actual building these days, using special software to generate a 3-D version of the structure and a Lego graph before the actual construction.
“It requires a lot of planning so that you don’t waste man-hours. You also need to take the number of bricks required and the weight into consideration, because they must be moved eventually,” says Mohamed.
Khairunnadia Kamarudin, 25, is another of the six pioneers and one of seven women in the team of builders.
“It was quite hard and tedious at first. But Lego models are now a medium for me to express my knowledge and patience,” says Khairunnadia, who studied industrial design at school in Malaysia.
Legoland Malaysia is one of many projects in the Iskandar development region (now known as Iskandar Malaysia), which the Malaysian Government wants to build as an economic, leisure and residential hub.
Legoland will be the centrepiece of Medini Lifestyle, a lifestyle and entertainment hub.
Catering to families with children between the ages of two and 12, the park will feature more than 40 rides and attractions.
While prices have not been set, developers say they will be competitive.
The likes of Universal Studios Singapore charges S$66 (RM158) for a one-day adult pass on weekdays, while Hong Kong Disneyland charges about HKD$57 (RM136).
Siegfried Borst, senior director of operations for the park, is counting on the “universal appeal” of Lego to draw visitors.
“Our target market is children aged two to 12, and fortunately, there are many more children being born every year,” he says. – The Sunday Times/ANN
-News courtesy of The Star-
Thursday, 3 March 2011
KTM relocation under way
KTM relocation under way
Work is under way to implement the Points of Agreement (POA) which will see the Malaysian railway (KTM) station in Tanjong Pagar move to Woodlands Train Checkpoint by July 1, 2011.
Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo said this in Parliament, during his ministry's Committee of Supply debate.
Mr Yeo said a schedule of implementation has been drawn up, adding that work on some aspects of the implementation has also started.
The deal struck by the Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia in September last year was described as a "breakthrough" in bilateral relations.
The two leaders agreed on the implementation of the POA which had been "outstanding for almost 20 years".
Mr Yeo said the July 1 deadline for the KTM railway station to move from Tanjong Pager to Woodlands is a "firm deadline."
Already, he said work on some aspects of the implementation has started.
Several developments along the main railway line including the redevelopment of Silat Estate and the expansion of One North business park at Buona Vista will begin after July 1.
The question of development charges payable on land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands will be settled by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
"When KTMB moves out of Tanjong Pagar, the Singapore government would vest in M-S Pte Ltd, a 60-40 joint venture company formed between Khazanah and Temasek, four land parcels in Marina South and two in Ophir-Rochor," said Mr Yeo.
Other initiatives agreed between both sides in the Joint Statement of May 24, 2010 include the joint development of a rapid transit system link between JB and Singapore.
It also includes Singapore's handing over the waterworks under the 1961 Water Agreement to the Johor authorities free of charge and in good working order on 31 August 2011.
In addition, Khazanah and Temasek will set up a 50-50 joint venture company to undertake the development of an iconic project in Iskandar Malaysia. Khazanah and Temasek are looking to launch the project in May 2011.
"Settling the POA was not a simple matter," Mr Yeo said.
"It took a few years of careful negotiations -- a lot of it, quiet, a lot of it looking for win-win political and economic outcomes on both sides and being mindful of the domestic commentary in Malaysia.
"The key was (Malaysian) Prime Minister Najib's leadership and his relationship with our own Prime Minister, and I believe this will continue.
"I once had a discussion with a Malaysian friend and I told him, 'we are more likely to have our elections before yours'. He smiled. We don't know yet, but I think it's likely to be, and I hope -- in fact, I'm quite sure -- that both sides will win handsomely and this good relationship will continue," Mr Yeo said.
Beyond relations with neighbouring states, Mr Yeo also stressed on Singapore's heavy dependence on external relations.
He said the world is moving towards a messier multipolar reality and in this fluid situation, it's crucial to strengthen ASEAN.
One issue highlighted is the continuing turmoil in the Middle East, which Mr Yeo described as "history in the making".
He added it's something Singapore needs to adjust to and cut its losses if needed.
Singapore's economic and political links with countries in the Middle East have grown significantly in the past eight years, reaching an all-time high of S$44 billion last year.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Work is under way to implement the Points of Agreement (POA) which will see the Malaysian railway (KTM) station in Tanjong Pagar move to Woodlands Train Checkpoint by July 1, 2011.
Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo said this in Parliament, during his ministry's Committee of Supply debate.
Mr Yeo said a schedule of implementation has been drawn up, adding that work on some aspects of the implementation has also started.
The deal struck by the Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia in September last year was described as a "breakthrough" in bilateral relations.
The two leaders agreed on the implementation of the POA which had been "outstanding for almost 20 years".
Mr Yeo said the July 1 deadline for the KTM railway station to move from Tanjong Pager to Woodlands is a "firm deadline."
Already, he said work on some aspects of the implementation has started.
Several developments along the main railway line including the redevelopment of Silat Estate and the expansion of One North business park at Buona Vista will begin after July 1.
The question of development charges payable on land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands will be settled by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
"When KTMB moves out of Tanjong Pagar, the Singapore government would vest in M-S Pte Ltd, a 60-40 joint venture company formed between Khazanah and Temasek, four land parcels in Marina South and two in Ophir-Rochor," said Mr Yeo.
Other initiatives agreed between both sides in the Joint Statement of May 24, 2010 include the joint development of a rapid transit system link between JB and Singapore.
It also includes Singapore's handing over the waterworks under the 1961 Water Agreement to the Johor authorities free of charge and in good working order on 31 August 2011.
In addition, Khazanah and Temasek will set up a 50-50 joint venture company to undertake the development of an iconic project in Iskandar Malaysia. Khazanah and Temasek are looking to launch the project in May 2011.
"Settling the POA was not a simple matter," Mr Yeo said.
"It took a few years of careful negotiations -- a lot of it, quiet, a lot of it looking for win-win political and economic outcomes on both sides and being mindful of the domestic commentary in Malaysia.
"The key was (Malaysian) Prime Minister Najib's leadership and his relationship with our own Prime Minister, and I believe this will continue.
"I once had a discussion with a Malaysian friend and I told him, 'we are more likely to have our elections before yours'. He smiled. We don't know yet, but I think it's likely to be, and I hope -- in fact, I'm quite sure -- that both sides will win handsomely and this good relationship will continue," Mr Yeo said.
Beyond relations with neighbouring states, Mr Yeo also stressed on Singapore's heavy dependence on external relations.
He said the world is moving towards a messier multipolar reality and in this fluid situation, it's crucial to strengthen ASEAN.
One issue highlighted is the continuing turmoil in the Middle East, which Mr Yeo described as "history in the making".
He added it's something Singapore needs to adjust to and cut its losses if needed.
Singapore's economic and political links with countries in the Middle East have grown significantly in the past eight years, reaching an all-time high of S$44 billion last year.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
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