PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Singapore delved into Sarawak’s ambition to export electricity via submarine cables during a high-level meeting between the two nations.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the discussions included his Singaporean counterpart, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“We explored the suggestion, particularly from the Sarawak government, regarding the export of energy using submarine cables through Peninsular Malaysia to Singapore, or alternatively, other measures that would require the understanding of our neighbouring countries,” he said.
Anwar said this during a joint press conference with Wong after the 11th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat at the Perdana Putra Complex here Tuesday (Jan 7).
Anwar added that both governments discussed the issue of the Flight Information Region (FIR), acknowledging Malaysia’s need to enhance connectivity with Sabah and Sarawak while also addressing Singapore’s requirements to ensure smooth operations and activities at Changi Airport.
On his part, Wong stressed that sustainability is a key priority for both nations.
He said that significant progress has been made in discussions on cooperation in green energy and sustainability, including cross-border electricity trading.
“There are some projects that we are discussing, both coming through Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, as well as from Sarawak, and we are fully committed to realising the Asean Power Grid,” he said.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, and Johor Chief Minister Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
The retreat concluded with the exchange of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) Joint Agreement, alongside six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and a Letter of Intent (LOI).
These agreements covered education, women’s and social welfare, climate change, carbon capture and storage, urban development, and efforts to combat cross-border crime.
