News: The Straits Times - 13 June 2009
Singapore delegation visits Perak; MM calls on Sultan and Menteri Besar
By Reme Ahmad, Assistant Foreign Editor
(Picture: MM Lee Kuan Yew meeting Perak Sultan Azlan Shah in the state capital of Ipoh yesterday. He also met Regent Raja Nazrin Shah. During the meeting which lasted over an hour, Mr Lee briefed his hosts on his discussions with Malaysian leaders in KL. - Lianhe Zaobao photo)
IPOH (PERAK): Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had a warm and cordial meeting with Perak's Sultan Azlan Shah and Regent Raja Nazrin Shah in the state capital Ipoh yesterday, the fifth day of his eight-day visit to Malaysia.
Perak, the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia after Pahang, was the first state visited by MM Lee and a Singapore delegation after four days of meetings in Kuala Lumpur with Malaysian political leaders and the Malaysian King.
The Singapore group also called on Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir at his office yesterday.
Mr Lee arrived in Ipoh on Thursday evening from KL.
'The meeting between MM Lee and Sultan Azlan Shah and Raja Nazrin was warm and cordial and lasted one hour and 15 minutes,' said the MM's press secretary Yeong Yoon Ying.
Mr Lee briefed his hosts on his meetings in KL, and Sultan Azlan Shah in turn welcomed Mr Lee to Ipoh after a long absence, said Madam Yeong.
The Singapore delegation comprises Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Education Minister Ng Eng Hen, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Masagos Zulkifli.
After the meeting with the Perak ruler, Datuk Seri Zambry took Mr Tharman, Dr Ng, Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui and Mr Masagos to lunch at the popular Wangei coffee shop nearby. Mr Zambry and Mr Masagos later went to a neighbourhood mosque for Friday prayers.
Mr Masagos said he was happy to learn from Mr Zambry that the Perak leader has several friends among Singapore's community leaders: 'These linkages should be expanded across many levels of society so that the good communications and relationships between our people would be fostered,' he told reporters.
Mr Lee paid a courtesy call on Mr Zambry at the Menteri Besar's office in the afternoon.
Mr Lee and the Singapore delegation also held a 45-minute meeting with Mr Zambry and the Perak state executive councillors, during which Mr Lee thanked his hosts for the warm welcome.
'During the meeting, they discussed how Singaporean and Malaysian leaders can further strengthen their relationship to enhance bilateral cooperation,' Madam Yeong said.
Mr Zambry told reporters that during his discussions with the Singapore leaders, the issue of boosting trade and transport ties between Perak and the Republic was raised. He said Perak is rich with agricultural produce such as ducks, prawns and vegetables, and natural resources such as limestone, all of which he is keen to market to Singapore.
-end of ST article