HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to send messages of congratulations to Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, President of the Republic of Singapore, and Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, as well as the Government and people of the Republic of Singapore on the occasion of the 48th National Day of the Republic of Singapore.

In the message to Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, His Majesty expressed his pleasure at welcoming the President and his wife to Brunei earlier this year and was confident that the visit, as well as the frequent exchanges at all levels, had further strengthened the special friendship that had been long enjoyed by the two countries.

In ending the message to Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, His Majesty extended his best wishes to him and his family and to all Singaporeans for a happy celebration.

In the message to Lee Hsien Loong, His Majesty greatly appreciated the many years of warm friendship and close cooperation enjoyed by the two countries and peoples and looked forward to renewed opportunities to strengthen these much-valued bilateral ties and important regional cooperation.

His Majesty also expressed his great pleasure at having the Prime Minister in Brunei earlier this year and looked forward to welcoming him in Brunei again for the Asean meetings in October.

In ending the message to Lee, His Majesty extended best wishes for the continued prosperity of the Republic of Singapore and its people.

Meanwhile, in a similar message by HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to K Shanmugam, Singapore’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law, the Prince sent his warmest congratulations to the minister and to the government and people of the Republic of Singapore on the 48th National Day.

“I warmly congratulate your government and people on Singapore’s continued and much-valued contribution to regional and international affairs during the past year and look forward with much pleasure to our discussions at the Brunei-Singapore Exchange visit in Singapore in October.

“With my greatest appreciation for all your support during our Asean chairmanship this year and my kindest personal regards to you and your family,” HRH said in concluding his message. - Borneo Bulletin (9 August 2013)