30 april 2009 02:15

Najib`s Visit Cements Ties With Brunei

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Brunei`s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (right)
at their meeting at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan yesterday.
— Bernama picture

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Brunei`s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah had a meeting here yesterday, setting the way for the two neighbours to further enhance bilateral relations.

The meeting, which took place at Istana Nurul Iman and was followed by a state banquet, provided an excellent opportunity for both leaders to renew friendships and explore new areas of cooperation.

Brunei is the second Asean country after Indonesia to be visited by Najib since assuming the premiership.

Najib`s visit also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Brunei.

Earlier, on arrival at the Bandar Seri Begawan International Airport, Najib was welcomed by Brunei`s Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Awang Adanan Awang Mohd Yusof, who is also the Minister-in-Attendance.

Also on hand to receive him was Malaysia`s High Commissioner to Brunei Datuk Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari.

Accompanying Najib were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Minister of Information, Communications and Culture Datuk Seri Rais Yatim and Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk A. Kohilan Pillay.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Alfred Jabu were also in the prime minister`s delegation.

Briefing Malaysian journalists on the prime minister`s visit, Ku Jaafar said Brunei offered numerous investment opportunities, such as in the housing, infrastructure, tourism and financial sectors, which Malaysian businessmen could venture into.

Citing an example, he said just recently, a Malaysian construction firm, Bina Puri, secured a contract to build 2,000 houses in Brunei.

“Brunei aims to become a developed nation by 2035 and the vision entails the implementation of numerous development projects and initiatives.”

He also said Brunei had expressed interest in participating in the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) and the Sarawak Corridor for Renewable Energy (Score).

“As neighbours, both countries could complement each other in realising the objective of Brunei`s Vision 2035, the SDC and Score,” Ku Jaafar said.

Najib will meet members of the Malaysian community in Brunei before returning to Kuala Lumpur today.

Source: http://www.nst.com.my (29 April 2009)

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