Speaker Seah Kian Peng welcomed the king, noting the robust bilateral relations between the two nations, The Straits Times reported.

Seah also highlighted Sultan Ibrahim’s influence as Ruler of Johor in helping to keep supply lines across the land borders open during the Covid-19 lockdown, even as the Causeway was closed to travellers.

According to The Straits Times, Seah’s actions were unusual, because the speaker usually only goes as far as to acknowledge the presence of visiting foreign dignitaries in a sentence or two.

“I am confident that His Majesty’s visit is a precursor to even stronger ties between Singapore and Malaysia,” Seah said.

Sultan Ibrahim and Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah were later briefed on the progress of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) project at the Woodlands North MRT station.

The briefing was done by Singapore’s transport minister Chee Hong Tat.

The RTS Link project is a 4km railway shuttle link with two stations, one in Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru, and one in Woodlands, Singapore.

At the end of the visit, the king and queen departed for Istana Bukit Serene, Johor Bahru, at 3.55pm using the Johor Causeway.

Sultan Ibrahim and Raja Zarith Sofiah were accompanied by transport minister Loke Siew Fook and high commissioner of Malaysia to Singapore Azfar Mustafar.