At the frontrunners ‘ surrender, Malaysia and Singapore also signed MOUs to engage in the areas of higher learning, urban development, family growth, carbon capture and storage, coal credits, as well as preventing and combatting international crimes.
In a follow-up to Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s proposal during his first meeting with Singapore equivalent Lawrence Wong in June last month, both countries signed a Letter of Intent for the Malaysia-Singapore English Volunteers Programme.
A pilot program is being planned for after this month, according to Malaysian Yayasan Guru Tun Hussein Onn and the Singapore International Foundation. Participants from Singapore may help with the English language’s training in some schools and states in Malaysia as part of the program.
Lower EDUCATION
Singapore and Malaysia may further enhance participation in the field of higher learning, and pave the way for more intensive administrative partnerships, people-to-people markets, and information sharing between Malaysia and Singapore.
Under this MOU, both parties will promote and encourage higher education assistance between institutes of higher learning in the areas of staff and student exchanges, exchange of information and experiences, team training programmes, change of scholarships, and the company of shared activities and programmes.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
The MOU on industrial growth aims to promote cooperation between the Housing and Local Government Ministries of Malaysia and Singapore.
Officials from both ministries may deepen their common understanding in areas like property use planning to create lasting and tolerable cities, the construction of high-quality, smart homes, and municipal management. Knowledge-sharing on these subjects will be done through activities like professional exchanges and study visits.
FAMILY DEVELOPMENT
Given that both countries have “mutual interests and related values” in areas relating to the community, the MOU on cooperation in the fields of social welfare, women and people with disabilities ‘ independence, home, children and community development, and household, children, and development, said Singapore’s Ministry of Social and Family Development.
In addition to fostering relationships between government organizations and social development organizations, information exchange on policies and programs, institution visits for networking and technical cooperation, and joint workshops, seminars and training programs to develop human capacity in social work and community development, among other things.
CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE
Singapore and Malaysia will engage in bilateral discussions in accordance with this MOU to facilitate cross-border carbon capture and storage (CCS) and discuss the terms of a government-to-government agreement that will be legally binding.
Both nations will also offer industry-led research projects and best practices in addition to CCS. Additionally, to facilitate the implementation of the MOU, a joint committee made up of representatives from both parties will be established.
CCS involves capturing, moving, and permanently storing carbon dioxide to prevent atmospheric emissions. The process could decarbonise hard-to-abate emissions for which there are no ready alternative solutions, in sectors such as energy and chemicals, power and waste.
CARBON CREDITS
According to Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, the signing of the MOU to collaborate on carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement signals Singapore’s and Malaysia’s intention to pursue voluntary cooperation to meet the nationally determined contributions ( NDC ) set out in their Nationally Determined Contributions.
Singapore and Malaysia will work together to create a legally binding Implementation Agreement that will provide a bilateral framework for the creation and transfer of carbon credits that have been appropriately adjusted according to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
The implementation agreement will enable the creation of projects utilizing carbon credits that increase the potential for mitigation, promote sustainable development, and provide benefits to local communities.
TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES
Under the MOU, Singapore and Malaysia will enhance cooperation in combatting transnational crimes such as drug trafficking, terrorism, cybercrime and scams, including cyber-enabled scams.
A joint working committee will be established to identify and develop activities, policies, or programs to be carried out in accordance with the MOU framework, along with the home affairs ministries of both nations.