CROWN PRINCE OF BRUNEI VISITS SINGAPORE 2

During his four-day official visit to Singapore, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalem, was conferred Singapore's highest military award, the Distinguished Service Order (Military), by President S R Nathan at the Istana on 20 Jan.

The award was presented in recognition of his significant role in enhancing the excellent defence ties between Brunei and Singapore.
Under His Royal Highness' guidance, the longstanding defence partnership between the two nations have been strengthened through new professional initiatives such as the Singapore-Brunei Defence Scholars Exchange Programme.

Bilateral exercises and professional interactions between the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) have also increased in scope and complexity over the years.

Guests at the investiture included Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen, Minister of State for Defence Koo Tsai Kee, Permanent Secretary (Defence) Chiang Chie Foo, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Desmond Kuek, and other senior government and military officials from both countries.

As part of his visit, His Royal Highness also called on President S R Nathan, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean.

Before leaving Singapore on 22 Jan, His Royal Highness visited the Armour Training Institute (ATI) at Sungei Gedong Camp, as well as Paya Lebar Airbase (PLAB).

At the ATI, he rode in one of SAF's recent acquisition, the Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank. His Royal Highness also had the opportunity to try out the F-16 training simulator at PLAB, after viewing a static display of some of the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) finest aircrafts, which included the F-16, F5, E-2C aircraft, Chinook helicopters, as well as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Singapore and Brunei enjoy a long history of close friendship and cooperation. The warm defence ties between the RBAF and the SAF is an important pillar of this bilateral relationship.