SINGAPORE: Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has arrived
in Malaysia for a visit at the invitation of Malaysian Premier
Abdullah Badawi.
While in Kuala Lumpur, Mr Goh will also meet Deputy Prime Minister
Najib Tun Razak and several Malaysian ministers.
Mr Goh is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Law Minister, S
Jayakumar and senior officials.
When Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made his introductory
visit to Kuala Lumpur in October, he announced that Mr Goh would
continue to take care of negotiations on bilateral issues between
both countries.
Mr Abdullah said he hoped Mr Goh could visit the country by year
end.
Hence, the timing of Mr Goh's visit.
Political observers say although no major breakthrough is expected
at Monday's meeting between SM Goh and Mr Abdullah, the discussion
will definitely set the tone and pace of future meetings between
the senior officials of both governments.
"There are many issues tied to each other. To expect a sudden
consensus on matters is not realistic," said R Ravindran, Chairman
of GPC for Defence and Foreign Affairs.
Among the outstanding bilateral issues are: water, the location of
Malaysia's Customs and Immigration Checkpoints in Singapore, the
Malaysian Railway Land in Singapore, the withdrawal of CPF money by
Malaysians working in Singapore, and Malaysia's proposal to replace
the present Causeway with a bridge.
The Singapore delegation looks forward to hearing Malaysia's
position on these issues.
Both delegations are also expected to discuss ways to further
enhance people-to-people ties, especially amongst the younger
generation. - CNA