JOHOR BARU, July 10 — Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim will be on a three-day official visit to Singapore, starting today.

Istana Bukit Pelangi, in a statement here, said Tunku Ismail is visiting the republic at the invitation of Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

It said Tunku Ismail would be accompanied by his wife Che’ Puan Besar Khaleeda Bustamam, as well as Johor palace and state officials.

During this visit, Singapore Prime Minister Datuk Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Datin Paduka Ho Ching would host Tunku Ismail and Che’ Puan Besar Khaleeda to tea, said the statement.

According to Istana Bukit Pelangi, Balakrishnan and his spouse would also welcome the royal couple with a dinner in their honour.

Tunku Ismail will also be meeting Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong.

Also on the cards, is a tour to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Commandos headquarters, to be hosted by the republic’s Senior Minister of State for Defence, Zaqy Mohamad, as well as tour to the Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School, to be hosted by Singapore’s Minister of State for Education, Gan Siow Huang.

Apart from that, the statement said the Tunku Mahkota Johor would also witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Singapore Football Association and Johor Football Association.

Also present would be Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong.

Istana Bukit Pelangi said the MoU would see cooperation in football development between the two parties, which includes the establishment of an annual football cup match between the Singapore selection and Johor selection teams from 2024 onwards. — Bernama