A Week of Shuttle Diplomacy

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

A week of MALAYSIA MARCH shuttle diplomacy 23-24 Met Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan • Malaysian King Sultan visited Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia Abdullah Ahmad Shah • Prime Minister Muhyiddin this week in a whirlwind tour to reafrm Yassin close ties and to discuss the current • Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (left) crisis in Myanmar following the South China and other senior ministers Feb 1 coup. Sea Key points • Agreed on mutual recognition of vaccine certicates • Dr Balakrishnan and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin discussed BRUNEI the convening of the 10th Leaders’ Retreat MALAYSIA • Both ministers expressed concern over the SINGAPORE humanitarian crisis in Myanmar INDONESIA Covid-19 precautions Dr Balakrishnan spent March 24 evening at the INDONESIA transit hotel in Changi. Met MARCH • President Joko Widodo • Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan • Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi • Former Indonesian president BRUNEI Met 25-26 (below) and other ministers Megawati Soekarnoputri • Brunei ruler Sultan Hassanal Key points Bolkiah (above) MARCH • Dr Balakrishnan and Ms Retno • Minister of Foreign Affairs II backed convening a summit of 22 Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof Asean leaders on Myanmar. • They also discussed an Key points in-person Leaders’ Retreat • Dr Balakrishnan discussed Asean’s role in between Mr Widodo and Prime regional cooperation under Brunei’s chairmanship Minister Lee Hsien Loong this with Dato Erywan. year, possibly on Bintan island. • They discussed the situation in Myanmar, and • At Dr Balakrishnan’s meeting urged all sides to seek a peaceful solution through with Mr Widodo, the two constructive dialogue. discussed the Myanmar military coup as well as opportunities Covid-19 precautions in the green economy. Dr Balakrishnan took an on-arrival PCR test when he returned to Singapore and isolated himself Covid-19 precautions until his results were made known. Not available at press time. PHOTOS: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SINGAPORE, REUTERS, INDONESIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS.

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Jewel Skyline
experience A newsletter of the Singapore Cooperation Programme July - September 2012 ISSUE 44 JEWEL in the SKYLINE MEGA PARK GARDENS BY THE BAY IS A FANTASY IN BLOOM GREEN WITH A PURPOSE THE MAKEOVER OF SINGAPORE’S PARKS REBUILDING A COMMUNITY A HELPING HAND FOR PAKISTAN’S FLOOD VICTIMS FOREWORD QUOTES FROM READERS’ LETTERS n our last issue of Experience Singapore, we revealed Singapore’s plans to “Thank you for the April-June issue of Experience Singapore. I collect all the issues transform from a “Garden City” to a “City in A Garden”. We provide more details that you send me. Any latest news of in this issue. Our cover story Jewel Of A Park is dedicated to Singapore’s new Singapore never fails to impress me. When I Gardens By The Bay which was offi cially opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien saw the latest cover, my mind went back to ILoong on 28 June 2012. The Gardens, which took 8 years to complete, are set to the Chinese cultural centre in Chinatown – it become an intrinsic part of Singapore’s new downtown. was one of the most striking places I visited in Singapore four years ago.” Outside of the city, the rejuvenation of our community parks is also well underway. In Beautifying With A Purpose, fi nd out how a utilitarian canal in Premachanda Abeywickrama Danapala, Sri Lanka Bishan-Ang Mo Kio park was transformed into a beautiful waterway employing natural bioengineering techniques to keep the water clean. This issue also explores how Singapore NGO Mercy Relief recently completed a “After my wonderful experience in Singapore, project to reconstruct homes for the people in the village of Wazir Ali Jat in Pakistan, where I had the opportunity to participate in the SCP course ‘Enhancing Pedagogy Skills For who were displaced in the nation’s worst-ever fl ood.
[Show full text]
Singapore 2020 International Religious Freedom Report
SINGAPORE 2020 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT Executive Summary The constitution, laws, and policies provide for religious freedom, subject to restrictions relating to public order, public health, and morality. The government continued to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church). It restricted speech or actions it perceived as detrimental to “religious harmony.” The government held 12 Jehovah’s Witnesses in the armed forces’ detention facility for refusing on religious grounds to complete mandatory national service. In December, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) detained a 16-year-old Christian male for planning to attack two mosques using a machete on the anniversary of the 2019 Christchurch, New Zealand mosque shootings. According to the ministry, the individual had been self- radicalized through online material, including the Christchurch attacker’s manifesto and ISIS videos of violence against Christians. The government stated the individual acted alone and did not try to influence or involve others in his attack plans. In February, the MHA launched an investigation into a local, unregistered chapter of the South Korean Shincheonji Church of Jesus the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji Church), which resulted in the deportation of five South Koreans and the dissolution of affiliated organizations. In November, authorities arrested 21 individuals for resuming activities of the church “covertly.” In June, police detained a permanent resident for posting comments to Instagram about wanting to kill Muslims. In September, police issued a warning to Workers’ Party Member of Parliament Raeesah Khan for social media posts she made in 2018 and May 2020, before she was a candidate for parliament, accusing the government of discrimination against religious and racial minorities.
[Show full text]
Opening Remarks by Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean at the Public Sector Data Security Review Committee Press Conference on 27 November 2019
OPENING REMARKS BY SENIOR MINISTER TEO CHEE HEAN AT THE PUBLIC SECTOR DATA SECURITY REVIEW COMMITTEE PRESS CONFERENCE ON 27 NOVEMBER 2019 Good morning everyone and thank you for attending the press conference. Work of the PSDSRC 2 As you know, in 2018 and 2019, we uncovered a number of data-related incidents in the public sector. In response to these incidents, the government had immediately introduced additional IT security measures. Some of these measures included network traffic and database activity monitoring, and endpoint detection and response for all critical information infrastructure. But, there was a need for a more comprehensive look at public sector data security. 3 On 31 March this year, the Prime Minister directed that I chair a Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of data security policies and practices across the public sector. 4 I therefore convened a Committee, which consisted of my colleagues from government - Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Mr S Iswaran, Mr Chan Chun Sing, and Dr Janil Puthucheary - as well as five international and private sector representatives with expertise in data security and technology. If I may just provide the background of these five private sector members: We have Professor Anthony Finkelstein, Chief Scientific Adviser for National Security to the UK Government and an expert in the area of data and cyber security; We have Mr David Gledhill who is with us today. He is the former Chief Information Officer of DBS and has a lot of experience in applying these measures in the financial and banking sector; We have Mr Ho Wah Lee, a former KPMG partner with 30 years of experience in information security, auditing and related issues across a whole range of entities in the private and public sector; We have Mr Lee Fook Sun, who is the Executive Chairman of Ensign Infosecurity.
[Show full text]
Why the Changes, and Why Now?
Why the changes, and why now? The upcoming Cabinet reshufe on May 15 comes earlier in the Government’s term than normal, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday. Below are his explanations for the various movements. On Mr Heng Swee Keat relinquishing Finance: On moving Mr Chan Chun Sing from As I announced two weeks Relinquishing Finance will Trade and Industry to Education: ago, Heng Swee Keat will free him to concentrate continue as Deputy Prime more on the Chun Sing has done an excellent job Minister and Coordinating whole-of-government getting our economy back on track, and Minister for Economic economic agenda, including preparing our industries and Policies. He will also chairing the Future companies to respond to structural continue to oversee the Economy Council, and changes in the global economy. This Strategy Group within the incorporating the has been a major national priority. Now Prime Minister’s Ofce, recommendations of the I am sending him to Education, where which coordinates our Emerging Stronger he will build on the work of previous policies and plans across Taskforce into the work of education ministers, to improve our the Government, as well as the council. He will also education system to bring out the best the National Research continue to co-chair the in every child and student, and develop Foundation. As Finance Joint Council for Bilateral young Singaporeans for the future. Minister, Swee Keat has Cooperation (JCBC), Nurturing people is quite different from carried a heavy burden, together with PRC (People’s growing the economy or mobilising especially during Covid-19 Republic of China) unions.
[Show full text]
IES Culminates Golden Jubilee Celebrations at Gala Dinner Graced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Media Release The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) Culminates Golden Jubilee Celebrations at Gala Dinner Graced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Prime Minister Lee presents Engineering Feats @ IES-SG50 awards to honour top 50 engineering achievements in Singapore’s nation-building years and IES-SG50 Golden Jubilee Scholarships to 50 needy engineering students Professor Cham Tao Soon receives IES Lifetime Engineering Achievement Award and Minister Masagos Zulkifli conferred IES Honorary Fellow title 1 July 2016, Singapore - The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) celebrated 50 golden years of growth as the national society of engineers at the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore with Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong gracing the event as the guest-of- honour. Mr. Chan Chun Sing, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Mr. Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources also attended the event as special guests, together with more than 1,000 distinguished guests. The event commemorated IES’ contributions, as the heart and voice of engineers and the national body and home for engineers, to Singapore’s past five decades of nationbuilding, since its establishment on 1 July 1966. IES has achieved significant milestones in fulfilling its various roles, including: • Elevating the professional status of engineers: Professional Engineers bill in 1971, full signatory status in Washington Accord in 2006 and IES Chartered Engineer 1
[Show full text]
Introductory Call on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan
Introductory Call on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan At 9:40 am on 25th April 2016, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore made an introductory call on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The call lasted approximately 25 minutes. The summary of the meeting is as follows. 1. At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his appreciation for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s condolence message for the Earthquake Centered in the Kumamoto Region of Kumamoto Prefecture. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe then conveyed his warm welcome towards Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, who is making his introductory visit to Japan in his capacity as Foreign Minister of the Republic of Singapore to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Singapore. 2. After conveying his condolences for the Earthquake Centered in the Kumamoto Region of Kumamoto Prefecture, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan stated that Singapore stands ready to render whatever assistance and support to Japan. The Foreign Minister also said he was glad to be able to visit Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on his first visit to Japan as the Foreign Minister of Singapore. He went on to mention that Singapore publicly supports Japan’s "Proactive Contribution to Peace" and that Singapore believes and supports Japan’s recently enforced Legislation for Peace and Security in strengthening the Japan-US alliance as the pillar for regional peace and stability. Foreign Minister Balakrishnan also stated that Singapore will further its cooperation with Japan to develop the two countries’ bilateral relations, with the hope of contributing to regional peace and stability.
[Show full text]
Votes and Proceedings of the Twelfth Parliament of Singapore
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF SINGAPORE First Session MONDAY, 13 MAY 2013 No. 54 1.30 pm 386 PRESENT: Mdm SPEAKER (Mdm HALIMAH YACOB (Jurong)). Mr ANG WEI NENG (Jurong). Mr BAEY YAM KENG (Tampines). Mr CHAN CHUN SING (Tanjong Pagar), Acting Minister for Social and Family Development and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence. Mr CHEN SHOW MAO (Aljunied). Dr CHIA SHI-LU (Tanjong Pagar). Mrs LINA CHIAM (Non-Constituency Member). Mr CHARLES CHONG (Joo Chiat), Deputy Speaker. Mr CHRISTOPHER DE SOUZA (Holland-Bukit Timah). Ms FAIZAH JAMAL (Nominated Member). Mr NICHOLAS FANG (Nominated Member). Mr ARTHUR FONG (West Coast). Mr CEDRIC FOO CHEE KENG (Pioneer). Ms FOO MEE HAR (West Coast). Ms GRACE FU HAI YIEN (Yuhua), Minister, Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mr GAN KIM YONG (Chua Chu Kang), Minister for Health and Government Whip. Mr GAN THIAM POH (Pasir Ris-Punggol). Mr GERALD GIAM YEAN SONG (Non-Constituency Member). Mr GOH CHOK TONG (Marine Parade). No. 54 13 MAY 2013 387 Mr HAWAZI DAIPI (Sembawang), Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Acting Minister for Manpower. Mr HENG CHEE HOW (Whampoa), Senior Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office and Deputy Leader of the House. Mr HRI KUMAR NAIR (Bishan-Toa Payoh). Ms INDRANEE RAJAH (Tanjong Pagar), Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Education. Dr INTAN AZURA MOKHTAR (Ang Mo Kio). Mr S ISWARAN (West Coast), Minister, Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Trade and Industry.
[Show full text]
UAE, Singapore Sign Comprehensive Partnership Agreements
UAE, Singapore sign comprehensive partnership agreements MoUs signed in the education, technology, and environment sectors, with the aim to benefit both countries interests. Singapore Skyscrapers Singapore Financial building at raffle place a central business district of Singapore with cloud Getty Images/ BNBB Studio By Staff Writer, WAM (Emirates News Agency) SINGAPORE - His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, witnessed the signing of a comprehensive partnership agreement between the UAE and Singapore, along with a number of memoranda of understanding, MoUs, in the education, technology, and environment sectors, with the aim to benefit both countries interests. Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, signed the comprehensive partnership agreement between the UAE and Singapore, alongside Dr. Mohammed Malki bin Othman, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs. An agreement was signed between ADNOC and Nanyang Technological University, NTU Singapore, was signed by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and ADNOC Group CEO, and Professor Alan Chan, Vice President (Alumni & Advancement) at NTU Singapore. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, signed an MoU on the protection of the environment. As for green projects development and applying best practices, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority, and Dr Leong Chee Chiew, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner of Parks & Recreation at the National Parks Board.
[Show full text]
1.COVID-19: GLOBAL CRISIS of OUR GENERATION National Reserves
Issue 5/2020 1. COVID-19: GLOBAL CRISIS OF OUR GENERATION On 5 Jun, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat delivered the round-up speech for the Fortitude Budget debate in Parliament. The government’s support measures in the four Budgets – Unity, Solidarity, Resilience and Fortitude – amounted to S$92.9 billion, or almost 20% of Singapore’s GDP. Altogether, Singapore will draw an unprecedented sum of S$52 billion from the national reserves, our “rainy-day fund” that has been painstakingly built up since our independence. National Reserves Unlike most countries, Singapore need not borrow to fund large stimulus packages. Our national reserves allow us to deal with the crisis from a position of strength, serving to: Assure Singaporeans that we have the Image: Facebook/Heng Swee Keat means to navigate the challenges ahead, to protect lives and sustain livelihoods. DPM said that the spending was necessary to Foster global investors’ confidence that help overcome the widespread and our economic fundamentals are sound unprecedented impact of the crisis. and stable, and that we have the Describing COVID-19 as a global crisis of our resources to emerge stronger. generation, DPM outlined the numerous Protect Singapore during this period of challenges that past generations of flux, deterring others from taking Singaporeans weathered, and reiterated advantage of this crisis to attack our that our generation would, too, overcome economy and currency. this crisis with fortitude and solidarity. DPM said that our reserves are the result of consistent hard work, prudence, long-term Each generation’s crisis, and planning and discipline of those who came response, is different.
[Show full text]
LUGP) Leaders
Course dates Leaders in Urban Flagship programme for Governance Programme senior urban (LUGP) leaders 7th LUGP participants on a cycling learning journey at Punggol Waterway Park. LUGP is designated What LUGP offers by the Infrastructure Drawing upon the Singapore Liveability Framework, learn about the principles, and Environment (I&E) considerations and constraints underpinning Singapore’s urban transformation. Analyse Sectoral Leadership current issues and challenges faced by agencies and understand the thinking behind policies. Committee (comprising Adopting cross-sectoral, cross-disciplinary, and integrated approach, tapping on CLC’s permanent secretaries of knowledge products and networks through: the sector) as a milestone • Urban systems studies seminars delivered by urban pioneers on Singapore’s urban transformation: course for the capability — High Quality of Life and Sustainable Environment through creating green, blue, development of the equitable and liveable environment, sector. It is a practitioner- — Competitive Economy through good industrial infrastructure and creating led course designed for vibrant economy, senior high-performing — Supported by integrated planning and development, and urban governance as Singapore public service expounded by the Framework. officers in the I&E sector • Dialogues with Political Office Holders, Key Public Service Leaders and Private Sector on current and forward-thinking topics e.g. future trends and whole of government demonstrating leadership strategies, urban governance and complexity, and challenges or private sector. potential and aspiring • Learning Journeys — showcasing how Singapore delivers integrated urban solutions: to acquire broader learn how the People-Private-Public network work together to translate and implement perspectives on the the solution. urban development • Overseas study trips — drawing parallels and contrasting our urban transformation with other cities such as New York, Shanghai, Suzhou, Copenhagen, etc.
[Show full text]
Report of the Special Select Committee on Nominations for Appointment As Nominated Members of Parliament
FOURTEENTH PARLIAMENT OF SINGAPORE _____________ First Session _____________ REPORT OF THE SPECIAL SELECT COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT AS NOMINATED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT Parl. 2 of 2021 _________ Presented to Parliament on 14 January 2021 _________ COMPOSITION OF THE SPECIAL SELECT COMMITTEE ___________________ Mr Speaker (Mr Tan Chuan-Jin) (Marine Parade) (Chairman) Mr Chan Chun Sing (Tanjong Pagar) Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Gan Kim Yong (Chua Chu Kang) Minister for Health Ms Gan Siow Huang (Marymount) Minister of State, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Manpower Ms Indranee Rajah (Tanjong Pagar) Minister, Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Finance, Second Minister for National Development and Leader of the House Dr Mohamad Maliki bin Osman (East Coast) Minister, Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Education and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Leon Perera (Aljunied) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (Holland-Bukit Timah) Minister for Foreign Affairs CONTENTS Pages Report of the Special Select Committee … …. … … 1 – 8 Annex: Process for Consideration of Persons Proposed … …. 9 as Nominated Members of Parliament Minutes of Proceedings … … … … … … 10 – 17 Blank Page REPORT OF THE SPECIAL SELECT COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT AS NOMINATED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT The Special Select Committee, appointed pursuant to the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to nominate persons for appointment by the President as nominated Members of Parliament, has agreed to the following Report: Introduction 1 Section 1(2) of the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution provides: “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the President shall, within 6 months after Parliament first sits after any General Election, appoint as nominated Members of Parliament the persons nominated by a Special Select Committee of Parliament.” 2 The Members of the Special Select Committee (Committee) were nominated by the Committee of Selection, with Speaker as ex-officio Chairman.
[Show full text]
News Release
NEWS RELEASE Visit http://www.mindef.gov.sg for more news and information about MINDEF and the SAF Date of issue: 27 Aug 2021 Singapore and Australia Reaffirm Defence Relations at the 12th Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee Meeting 1. Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen attended the 12th meeting of the Singapore- Australia Joint Ministerial Committee (SAJMC) via video conferencing this morning. During the meeting, Dr Ng and Australian Minister for Defence Peter Dutton reaffirmed the close and long-standing defence relationship between Singapore and Australia. Both Ministers expressed satisfaction with the steady progress made in the joint development of training areas and advanced training facilities in Queensland, Australia, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This is one of the key initiatives under the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 2. The Ministers also exchanged views on regional and international security issues of mutual concern to both countries, including the need to enhance counter-terrorism and cybersecurity cooperation. They welcomed the deployment of an Australian liaison officer to the Counter-Terrorism Information Facility in Singapore. Both Ministers were also encouraged by the close cooperation between both countries at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting- Plus and the commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements, which will mark its 50th anniversary later this year. 3. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Australian Defence Force have a long history of military cooperation, with extensive interactions including bilateral and multilateral exercises, professional exchanges, cross attendance of courses and joint operational deployments. Last year, Singapore and Australia commemorated the 30th anniversary of the SAF’s training in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland and welcomed into force the Treaty on Military Training and Training Area Development in Australia.
[Show full text]