JOHOR BARU: Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi will begin an official visit to Singapore later today, at the invitation of the republic’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.
The visit comes as Onn Hafiz has been selected as the 82nd recipient of the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship, a prestigious honour given to leaders who have demonstrated strong governance and potential for national development.
He is the ninth Malaysian to receive the honour since the fellowship was established in 1991 to commemorate Singapore’s founding Prime Minister.
The trip marks both a diplomatic engagement and a personal milestone in regional leadership.
In a statement, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Onn Hafiz will meet with key figures including Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister and Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong, and several other cabinet members during his three-day visit to Singapore.
He will also meet Lee Tzu Yang, chairman of the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship.
The visit is expected to strengthen Johor–Singapore cooperation in various areas, particularly urban planning and community development.
Onn Hafiz will receive briefings and make site visits on topics such as hawker centre governance and sustainable urban development—sectors in which Singapore has earned global recognition, and which align closely with Johor’s ongoing transformation efforts.
Viewed through the lens of regional leadership, the invitation reflects not only a diplomatic gesture but also a shared commitment to governance excellence and forward-looking collaboration.
The fellowship underscores the growing stature of Johor’s leadership in the region and reaffirms the deepening trust between both sides of the Causeway.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
