JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA: Malaysia and Singapore should invest more time, energy and effort to ensure that both countries embrace the new dynamics of the regional and global environment.

Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the two nations should also adopt new habits and approaches to propel them into a new synergistic partnership for the future.

He added that Malaysia and Singapore's relationship has matured and their friendship should develop further beyond mere cooperation and collaboration.

Rais was speaking at a dinner with his Singaporean counterpart George Yeo and staff from their ministries who were in Senai for the Ninth Wisma Putra-Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore Games yesterday.

He said there may be times when the two countries' relationship appeared to be stormy to outsiders, but they had ironed out their differences through negotiations, dialogues and consultations.

He hoped that through the games, both countries could generate a better relationship and most importantly, instill in their young officers creative ways to nurture bilateral relations.

Yeo, who agreed with Rais, said both countries were so close that somehow they could not distinguish who is on which side.

"We share the same history, the same accent, the same language, similar culture and even the same taste for food," he said.

Yeo said both countries would have a stronger relationship and economic collaboration such as in the Iskandar Malaysia project in the future.

About 100 diplomatic officers and staff from both ministries participated in the two-day event that included golf, badminton and bowling.

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