King accorded state welcome in Singapore

Present to accompany Al-Sultan Abdullah at the ceremony held at the Istana, Orchard Road here, was Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.

On arrival at 5.30 pm, Their Majesties were received by Singapore's president Halimah Yacob and her husband, Mohammed Abdullah Alhabshee.

Al-Sultan Abdullah received a Royal Salute from the Guard of Honour accompanied by the Malaysian national anthem 'Negaraku' and the republic's national anthem 'Majulah Singapura'.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong then inspected a guard of honour accompanied by Halimah and later signed the President's Visitors Book.

His Majesty was also introduced to Singapore Cabinet Ministers before leaving for the Orchid Naming Ceremony, of which, one of the orchid species was named 'Queen Azizah of Malaysia'.

After the ceremony, Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah held a meeting with Halimah and Mohammed for about half an hour before leaving for the state dinner at the official residence and office of the President of Singapore.

The meeting was the second between Al-Sultan Abdullah and Halimah, after His Majesty granted an audience to Halimah in London, United Kingdom on Sept 18 when they were there to attend Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral.

The state visit to Singapore was originally scheduled for Sept 19 to 21 but was postponed for His Majesty to attend the queen's funeral.

The four-day state visit to Singapore starting yesterday is to strengthen the long-standing special bilateral relationship between Malaysia and Singapore that began 57 years ago.