The Ministry of Foreign Affairs MFA said on Saturday that President Halimah Yacob will make a state visit to Malaysia from Mar 20 to Mar 22 at the invitation of Malaysia's King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, business leaders and overseas Singaporeans during her trip.
This will be President Halimah's first state visit to Malaysia and reciprocates His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's visit to Singapore in October 2022, MFA said.
During her visit, Madam Halimah will be granted a state welcome ceremony in Istana Negara and will call on the king and queen Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
After the ceremony, Mdm Halimah will plant a gelam tree in the palace courtyard. The president and her husband, Mr Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, will have a new orchid hybrid, the Vanda Halimah Yacob Mohamed, named in their honour.
This is the first time that a tree planting ceremony and an orchid naming ceremony have been included in a state visit to Malaysia, MFA said. Their majesties will also host a state banquet in the president's honour. Mdm Halimah will get a call from Mr Anwar and meet the Sultan of Perak and chancellor of the University of Malaya Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah in her capacity as chancellor of the National University of Singapore, MFA said.
Mdm Halimah's itinerary includes a meeting with Singaporean and Malaysian business leaders, a reception for Singaporeans in Malaysia and a visit to the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia.
In addition to her husband, the president will be accompanied by Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Maliki Osman, Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Culture, Community and Youth Low Yen Ling, MPs Murali Pillai, Xie Yao Quan and Yeo Wan Ling, and officials from the President's Office, MFA and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
During President Halimah's absence, Mr. Eddie Teo, chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers, will exercise the function of the Office of the President, MFA said.