KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore President Halimah Yacob was accorded a state welcome at Istana Negara here today in conjunction with her maiden three-day visit to Malaysia which began yesterday.
On arrival at 11am, Halimah and her husband Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee were greeted by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Cabinet ministers.
The welcoming ceremony at the parade ground began with the singing of the Singapore and Malaysia national anthems by the Royal Malaysian Air Force central band, followed by a 21-gun salute.
Halimah then inspected a guard of honour mounted by four officers and 103 rank-and-file personnel of the First Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment from Wardieburn Camp in Setapak here, under the command of Mejar Mohd Fadjrin Masor@Mansor.