PUTRAJAYA: Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong believes the bilateral relationship between Singapore and Malaysia provides a crucial foundation and building block for a stronger Asean that can withstand geopolitical rivalries.
He said the relationship could be further advanced through Malaysia's chairmanship of Asean this year, focusing on strengthening linkages and promoting win-win cooperation.
"Singapore fully supports Malaysia's chairmanship of Asean. Now, more than ever, it is crucial for Asean to remain strong, integrated, and united, as the greatest competition we face is not from within Asean, but from outside the region.
"Countries worldwide are now focused on anchoring major projects closer to their home economies, with big economies discussing reshoring, on-shoring, and near-shoring.
"Asean must come together and explore ways to enhance our value proposition, ensuring we remain competitive as a bloc," he said.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Wong highlighted the importance of both countries' commitments to key projects, such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and the Johor Baru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which are critical to fostering a more integrated Asean.
"When it comes to Asean, we're not just talking about increasing trade and investment linkages, but also infrastructure connections, including the Asean Power Grid.
"These are important projects that Singapore supports, and we hope that under Malaysia's leadership, we can make meaningful progress," he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar said there was a need for both countries to work together bilaterally and regionally to navigate the unpredictable global political landscape while complementing each other's strengths.
"Singapore has strengths with certain countries, and we have ours with others. Why not work as a team to assist and complement one another?"
"Predicting the future is difficult, but at least we must take the necessary steps to strengthen our national and bilateral ties, and even more so with Asean.
"From my discussions with Asean leaders, I sense a renewed spirit. We must strengthen ourselves as a regional force to face the unpredictable pressures from other areas or groups. Collaboration, rather than division, is key," Anwar added.
Anwar also said Asean's focus should shift towards strengthening the Asean Energy Grid, enhancing connectivity within the Asean digitalisation framework, and improving intra-regional trade and investment, which has unfortunately been lacking.
"We have made progress in many areas, and we should recognise the contributions of past leaders. However, the new focus must be on reinforcing our regional economic fundamentals and positioning ourselves strategically in response to new geopolitical demands and uncertainties," he said.