Speech by Minister Chan Chun Sing during his Introductory Visit to Malaysia at the National Centre for Defence Studies (PUSPAHANAS)

Commandant of the Malaysian Armed Forces Defence College,

First Admiral Hj Shahriman bin Hj Mahmud

PUSPAHANAS Directing Staff and Faculty Members

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction 

A very good morning to all of you, and thank you for having me here this morning to have the opportunity to have a dialogue with you.

It is always a pleasure to be back in Malaysia – a country that is Singapore’s closest neighbour, with which we have longstanding historical ties, and are bounded by geography, history and personal ties. I have been to Malaysia countless times in both my professional and personal capacities. I have many good friends here whom I always look forward to meeting up with when I am in Malaysia, and every trip, I will also always make some new friends. 

There is much that we share in common, especially as smaller states facing an increasingly uncertain world. Our shared interests remind me that we must always remember that the competition is never between Malaysia and Singapore, but our real competition is how Singapore and Malaysia can work together to overcome the challenges of an increasingly uncertain world.

Close Neighbours, Close Cooperation  

As close neighbours, we enjoy close cooperation in many areas.

1. We have a shared interest in upholding the rule of law and international norms, which are fundamental to ensuring global stability. The alternative of having the law of the jungle prevail would leave us both worse off. Regardless of our size, both Singapore and Malaysia are relatively small countries in international affairs, and that is why fellow small countries like us in the larger scheme of things, should always find opportunities to work together to advance our interests.

2. Our economic ties are robust. We are amongst each other’s top trading partners. We see mutual benefits and opportunities in cross-border cooperation, which help enhance our joint value proposition. For example, the upcoming Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is a landmark initiative that will enhance cross-border flows of goods and people and strengthen our business ecosystem. As Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim said during the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue, the JS-SEZ is an example of a “different kind of border, one defined not by division, but by shared purpose”. 

3. Given our close proximity, our cross-border links are also aplenty, which facilitate daily travel across land, sea, and air. Over 300,000 people cross the Causeway every day. This is the busiest land checkpoint in the world. I am sure some among us have used the Causeway to commute between both countries, either for work or for leisure. The Causeway marked its 100th anniversary last year, a testament to our enduring ties.

4. Both of us recognise the importance of racial and religious harmony, which contribute to our countries’ peace and prosperity. In a world where countries are experiencing greater polarisation and political divisions, it is important that we embrace our diversity through mutual respect and understanding.

In the area of defence, which many of us are part of, there is much more we can do together.

1. Our first bilateral exercise was Exercise Malapura between our two Navies which began in 1984, just over 40 years ago! Our Armies and Air Forces also train regularly together, through Exercise Semangat Bersatu and Exercise Sarex Malsing.

2. Operationally, we conduct patrols under the Malacca Straits Patrol, and the Malaysian Armed Forces consistently deploys personnel to our Information Fusion Centre (IFC) and Counter-Terrorism Information Facility (CTIF). I am told that they are valued members of the team and contribute significantly.

   1. The current Malaysia international liaison officer to IFC, LCDR Hazwan Bahari, leads two of the IFC’s eight maritime security clusters, thus contributing substantially to the IFC’s research and analysis. He also plays an important role as the IFC’s main link to the Royal Malaysian Navy and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

   2. Malaysia’s two international liaison officers to CTIF, MAJ Amirul Nashriq and CPT Syafique Ezry, made similar valuable contributions to CTIF’s research and analysis. Under the combined efforts of the CTIF, they have also coordinated the planning and analysis for operations in support of Malaysia’s key events, such as the ASEAN Summit 2025.

3. We work together for common causes on multilateral platforms like the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) and at ASEAN through the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus. These are key tenets of our regional security architecture, and help provide ballasts against uncertain global security and economic winds.

   1. For example, we work with other FPDA member-nations to continually enhance the professional value of exercises, ensuring that they remain relevant amid a changing security environment. As a result of five decades of operating under the FPDA exercises, we have offered countless generations of SAF and MAF soldiers the opportunity to work closely together in a regular manner. This helps our people to get to know one another better and build the trust necessary for us to do real operations together.

   2. Singapore and Malaysia are both part of the seven Experts’ Working Groups (EWGs) under the ADMM-Plus that facilitate practical cooperation among militaries. The EWGs have carried out over 20 exercises in the past decade, which have built mutual understanding and confidence.

4. Beyond peace time cooperation, we have also joined forces in times of crisis. For example, in Oct 2024, the RSAF’s C-130 aircraft and the RMAF’s EC725 helicopter worked together from Pasay City, supporting the Philippines Air Force’s efforts to transport supplies, equipment, and personnel in areas that had been affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

More Commonalities than Differences

It is evident that Malaysia and Singapore have more commonalities than differences. The challenges we face are not in our bilateral relations, but in tackling larger issues such as ensuring regional peace and stability, and maintaining ASEAN’s relevance. Here, I thought it bears repeating that the competition is never between Malaysia and Singapore, but with the rest of the world. We have an interest to see each other succeed. A successful, prosperous and self-assured Malaysia is good for Singapore, just as a successful, prosperous and self-assured Singapore is good for Malaysia.

1. Today, we see ourselves in an unpredictable geopolitical climate where our rules-based international order risks being upended.

2. Given the increasingly complex security challenges, including those close to home, we must more than ever, work closely to overcome some of these challenges. Many of these challenges will be in the form of a network, and defending ourselves alone will not be the most effective way. For example, in the areas of maritime security, airspace coordination, cyber security, or critical undersea infrastructure. All these are common challenges that any attacks on one part of the system, is actually an attack on the network. For us to be effective in defending ourselves and securing our interests, both Singapore and Malaysia will need to work together with other like-minded partners to defend this as a system, rather than to think that we can rely on ourselves individually.

The Need for Mutual Trust and Understanding

Underlying this is a need for mutual trust and understanding, which provides the foundation for cooperation all these years. It is therefore important that we continue to plant the seeds of trust and cooperation, and this must start from young. This is why I have advocated, both as the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Education, and in my other capacities, that between Singapore and Malaysia, we must start young and continue at all ages.

For our students, we should have them exchange experiences, connect with one another between schools. For our university students, we should have regular exchange programs for them to do cross exchanges, including to defence colleges like this one. Even for our government officials, we also should have regular exchanges, because this is how we build a deep understanding of each other's needs and interests, for us to be able to work together. Certainly, for the Armed Forces personnel, that close collaboration must be needed in peace time, for us to be able to work together in times of crisis and need. All these regular interactions and exchanges are fundamental to helping our people build up the trust with one another. I am sure many of us in this room would have exercised with our counterparts from across the border over all these years. It is no different for me. I grew up in the Third Division of Singapore, and we have regular interaction programmes with the Third Division of the Malaysian Armed Forces in these years.

When I was the Chief of Army, we regularly visit our counterparts across the border and that is how we build up the trust with one another. I also encourage you that as you take on future leadership roles in your respective organisations, may you also continue to join hands to encourage the next generation to grow up together to plant the seeds of mutual trust so that when crisis, and when the need arises, we can always work together.

Conclusion

There is a Malay proverb: berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing. As close neighbours, our countries are interdependent, and our close ties, collective efforts, and shared responsibility can help us both navigate challenging times to ensure our mutual success.

On that note, I look forward to having a dialogue and conversation with you, to also hear your views of how we can take the relationship forward for our mutual benefit. Thank you very much.

More Resources

Minister for Defence Met Malaysian Prime Minister and Minister of Finance