President Tharman accorded state welcome in Malaysia as Sultan Ibrahim hails Singapore as key partner

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam was accorded a state welcome ceremony at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur on 13 July 2026, hosted by Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar and Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah, on the second day of his four-day state visit to Malaysia.

The ceremony, held at the Istana Negara parade square, opened with the national anthems of Singapore and Malaysia performed by the Royal Malay Regiment Central Band, followed by a 21-gun salute fired by the 41st Battery of the Royal Artillery Regiment.

President Tharman then inspected a guard of honour comprising four officers and 103 other ranks from the 1st Battalion Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD), Sungai Besi Camp, led by Major Mohd Masrur Hidayat Masri.

In the audience that followed, Sultan Ibrahim told President Tharman that Singapore is more than just one of Malaysia's closest neighbouring countries, describing the island nation as a highly valued partner and among the main drivers of trade and investment in the country.

"Bilateral trade continues to see growth as the volatile global economic conditions reflect the integrity of the bilateral relationship between Malaysia and Singapore," Sultan Ibrahim said, adding that the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) reflected cooperation to advance regional economic growth and create new opportunities within ASEAN.

The King voiced confidence that the launch of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, due by the end of 2026, would further strengthen connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore.

"Together with JS-SEZ, I am confident RTS Link will play an important role in attracting investments and strengthening Malaysia and Singapore's position as the main gateway to the ASEAN market," he said.

President Tharman, in turn, said Singapore and Malaysia have made a consistent choice, across every generation of leadership, to keep looking to the future and building together, describing the relationship as having "a quality that is difficult to find elsewhere, a quality that goes well beyond the here and now."

He noted that both countries share a history of coming together in difficult circumstances, referring to the 1963 merger and Singapore's 1965 separation from the Federation of Malaysia, and said periodic disagreements between the two sides have not derailed cooperation.

President Tharman also cited the JS-SEZ and RTS Link as current examples of both countries' shared ambition to deepen their economic partnership, calling the two projects a reflection of "our mutual desire to grow the complementarity between our economies."

Sultan Ibrahim noted more than 200 years of trade between Malaysia and Singapore, and the Johor Royal Family's longstanding relationship with the Singapore government and its leaders.

The King and Queen also held an audience with President Tharman's wife, Mrs Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam, and the Singapore delegation, witnessing an exchange-of-gifts ceremony at the Seri Maharaja Hall, Istana Negara.

Also present were members of the Johor royal family, including Tunku Tun Aminah Binti Sultan Ibrahim, Dato' Dennis Muhammad Bin Abdullah, Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim (Tunku Panglima Johor), and Tunku Abu Bakar Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim (Tunku Putera Johor), alongside Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Deputy Prime Ministers Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Amar Fadillah Yusof, Minister Steven Sim, and other Cabinet Ministers.

President Tharman's visit reciprocates Sultan Ibrahim's state visit to Singapore on 6 and 7 May 2024, and is the fourth state visit hosted by the King since ascending as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, following those of the Sultan of Brunei, the President of the People's Republic of China, and the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

The King and Queen later hosted President Tharman and the Singapore delegation to a state banquet at the Main Banqueting Hall, Istana Negara, marking the close of the day's programme.