The special aircraft carrying the prime minister, who was accompanied by his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, landed at the VIP Complex, Changi International Airport, at 9.40am.

He was greeted on arrival by the republic’s foreign affairs minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Singapore high commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon.

Also present at the airport were foreign minister Zambry Abdul Kadir, foreign ministry secretary-general Amran Mohamed Zin, and the Malaysian high commissioner to Singapore, Azfar Mohamad Mustafar.

A tight schedule awaits the prime minister with the day trip kicking off with an official welcoming ceremony held at the Istana, the official residence of the President of Singapore.

He will call on Singapore president Halimah Yacob and have a meeting with his counterpart Lee Hsien Loong who will also host an official lunch.

Thereafter, both prime ministers will witness the signing of three agreements before Anwar leaves the Istana to hold an engagement with the Malaysian diaspora in the island republic.

This will be Anwar’s first official visit to Singapore in his current capacity.

The Malaysian delegation comprises transport minister Anthony Loke, international trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, communications and digital minister Fahmi Fadzil, and officials from the relevant ministries and agencies.

The Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg and Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi are also part of the official delegation.