Singapore To Open Consulates In Sabah And Sarawak This Year
Singapore will open consulates in Sarawak and Sabah this year following approval from the Malaysian government last month, according to Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Vanu Gopala Menon.
Menon said Singapore would seek formal approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) once a suitable location is identified, before deploying officers to manage the mission.“We hope this consulate can be operational by the middle of this year,” he said, adding that the move is aimed at strengthening relations between Singapore and East Malaysia, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and tourism.
He highlighted that trade between Singapore and Sarawak has shown consistent growth, underscoring the need for a permanent diplomatic presence to facilitate closer economic cooperation.
Menon also cited increased tourism interest among Singaporeans, especially for destinations like the Mulu Caves, as one of the factors for establishing the consulates.“They are aware of the potential of Mulu Caves, but Sarawak has many more attractions. With a consul on the ground, we are confident we can attract more visitors and promote tourism ties between the two places,” he said.
On December 4, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong welcomed Malaysia’s official approval of the proposal to open consulates in Sabah and Sarawak, describing it as a vital step in strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.He added that the consulates will enable Singapore to provide consular services to its citizens and further deepen the already strong bilateral relationship.
