This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on May 17, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is expected to have a meeting with Malaysia’s newly elected Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday, according to Singapore media reports.

Lee was quoted as saying Singapore needs to pay close attention to the relationship with its closest neighbour Malaysia.

“The expectations of the new Malaysian government are very high, and I think Dr Mahathir will be very busy in the days to come. But I plan to visit him on Saturday, and tell him that I look forward to working with him again for mutual benefit,” he said during the Singapore parliament session yesterday.

He said he is looking to continue the good relations between Singapore and Malaysia.

“We hope Malaysia is stable and prosperous. We have enjoyed good relations with Malaysia under former prime minister Najib Razak, and cooperated on major projects that benefit both sides,” Lee said.

He added that Singapore and Malaysia even had joint projects completed when Dr Mahathir was last the prime minister, including building the Second Link at Tuas.

Lee also said he is acquainted with PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as he was Anwar’s counterpart when they were both deputy prime ministers. Anwar received a royal pardon yesterday and was released from a five-year jail term for a sodomy conviction, alleged to be politically motivated during Najib’s administration.