KUCHING: Singapore is planning to open consular offices in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, with operations targeted to begin by the middle of this year.
Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon said approval to establish the consulates had been granted by the Malaysian government towards the end of Nov last year.
“Following that approval, I decided to visit Malaysia, Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu to assess potential locations for the consulates,” he told reporters after paying a courtesy call on Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the Satria Pertiwi Complex here today (Jan 19).
Menon said several sites in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu were being considered, with the aim of identifying suitable locations to serve as an initial or temporary base for the consular offices.
Once locations are finalised, he said Singapore would seek formal approval from Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs before deploying officers to manage the offices.
He added that trade between Sarawak and Singapore had recorded encouraging growth, reinforcing the need for Singapore to establish an on-the-ground presence to facilitate closer economic engagement.
He expressed confidence that the opening of a Singapore consulate in Kuching would further strengthen bilateral relations and contribute to increased visitor flows and people-to-people interactions between the two sides.
