| Hakim Hayat |
MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Tun Dato Laila Utama Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad and spouse Tun Datin Dr Siti Hasmah binti Mohd Ali and delegation arrived in Brunei Darussalam yesterday as they begin their two-day official visit to the Sultanate.
Present at the Brunei International Airport to welcome the Malaysian delegation were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office as Personal Representative of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman.
Upon disembarking from his aircraft, the Malaysian Prime Minister walked past the guard of honour mounted by members of the Royal Brunei Land Forces (RBLF) of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).
Also present were Minister of Finance II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah as the Minister-in-Attendance and his spouse; and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof and his spouse.
Tun Dato Laila Utama Dr Mahathir was also introduced to the Cabinet Ministers, deputy ministers, Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force, Commander of the RBAF; ASEAN foreign envoys in Brunei Darussalam, as well as permanent secretaries at the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MoFAT).
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah was later introduced to members of the Malaysian delegation including Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Dato’ Saifuddin bin Abdullah and Datin, and Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Dato’ Seri Ramlan bin Ibrahim.
Also present at the Brunei International Airport were Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Deputy Minister of Finance Dato Seri Paduka Awang Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Deputy Minister of Energy, Manpower and Industry Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Matsatejo bin Sokiaw as well as the High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to Malaysia Dato Paduka Haji Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang Mohd Taha.
The visit marks the Prime Minister’s second official visit to a Southeast Asian country, as part of his introductory visit to the region since the resumption of his leadership on May 10, 2018.
Today, His Majesty will host an audience ceremony for the visiting Prime Minister at the Istana Nurul Iman, followed by a four-eyed meeting and luncheon. Both leaders are also scheduled for a morning walk and breakfast at the Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas and breakfast in the capital this morning.
Tun Dato Laila Utama Dr Mahathir also met the Malaysian community in Brunei Darussalam last evening at The Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong and is scheduled to deliver an honorary lecture on Malaysia-Brunei Relations in the context of ASEAN at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) this afternoon before leaving the country. In a statement, Putrajaya said that apart from providing a platform for the two leaders to further strengthen cooperation, the visit will also allow Malaysia to highlight the government’s latest policies and its stand, particularly on issues of mutual concern. It added that both leaders would have the opportunity to exchange views on regional and global issues that are of common interest to both countries.
Brunei is one of Malaysia’s closest and important neighbours and His Majesty was the first foreign leader to have paid a visit to Malaysia personally to congratulate the Prime Minister after assuming the position in May.
Last year, total trade between Brunei and Malaysia stood at USD1.14 billion, an increase of 70 per cent from the previous year, making Brunei Malaysia’s 35th largest trading partner globally and its 7th largest trading partner in ASEAN.