KUALA LUMPUR: Ties between Malaysia and Singapore are expected to be further strengthened under newly-appointed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

       The former prime minister said he received a phone call from Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who had asked about his latest progress after no longer holding the prime minister's post.

       "I am confident that the good Malaysia-Singapore relations will be further enhanced under the leadership of Ismail Sabri as the Prime Minister.

       "Lee also assured that measures to strengthen bilateral relations between our two countries will continue to be strengthened," he said in a Facebook posting on Thursday (Aug 26).

       "Lee also expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the good relationship and cooperation that we have established over the course of more than a year when we were counterparts and prayed that I can continue to play a role in the aspect of bilateral relations between the two countries," said Muhyiddin.

       Ismail Sabri was sworn in as the ninth Prime Minister on Aug 21.

       Personally, the former prime minister expressed his appreciation of the value of their personal friendship shown by Lee, not only recently, but ever since the two leaders got to know one another a long time ago.

       "I still remember our historic face-to-face meeting in the middle of the Johor Causeway in July last year, soon after I took over as Prime Minister, while Lee himself had just taken his oath as the Singapore Prime Minister again," added Muhyiddin.

       "I pray that Lee will be given good health in order to facilitate in governing Singapore smoothly," said Muhyiddin.