Prime Minister Najib Razak said the People's Action Party's (PAP) return to power in Singapore will allow Malaysia and the island republic to continue to work on areas of mutual interest.     

The prime minister expressed hope that more emphasis would be given to the consensus reached on matters pertaining to, for example, the development and connectivity involving Johor and Singapore, so that the intended progress in this area could be made. 

"PAP had been expected to win although the outcome indicated a decline in its share of the popular vote. But in terms of the number of seats, it may be considered a big victory for PAP.      

Najib said he wouldn't want to comment too much on the outcome of the Singapore election as "it is an internal matter".      

"But what's important is that we're getting the same government in Singapore, which means that there'll be continuity with regard to our prior mutual understanding," he told Malaysian journalists at the end of the Asean summit in Jakarta.      

The PAP retained power in the general election yesterday, but it was the opposition which stole the limelight by producing its best ever result in the history of elections in the republic.      

In the hotly contested election, the PAP, led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, won 81 of the 87 parliamentary seats at stake.     

- Bernama