KUCHING: The 12th annual consultation and commemoration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Indonesia has come out with various agreements for the better. According to Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, the strong bilateral ties between the two nations had come out with a good solution for both.
“There are many developments in our bilateral ties which comprise the fields of politics, economy, social, security and joint borders.
“The wish of both leaders to resolve some matters to improve this relationship which we believe have the high potential and opportunity can be realised,” said Najib during a joint press conference with President of Indonesia, Ir. Joko Widodo after witnessing the singing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Malaysia and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on the Cooperation in the Field of Islamic Higher Education, at Hilton Hotel, yesterday. One issue that has become attentive during the meeting is the export restriction against palm oil into the European Union (EU).
“Malaysia and Indonesia will take joint action to counter the discrimination which will otherwise jeopardise 600,000 smallholders in Malaysia and 13.5 million smallholders in Indonesia, “This issue is much closer to the people of Malaysia and Indonesia. It is an unfair decision because it will affect the smallholders drastically, “We have forwarded this issue to the attention of EU President, Donald Tusk, and with this joint action, we hope they will not continue the discrimination action,” said Najib.
Meanwhile, on the matters of border area, both Najib and Joko have agreed to open the Entikong- Tebedu border. “This border will open after the Border Cross Agreement (BCA) and Border Trade Agreement (BTA) is settled.
By opening the border, it will provide many benefits especially to the people nearby the border, “We al so have received a request from Sabah to open the border of Serundum-Semenggiris Baru, and it will also be decided after the BCA and BTA,” Najib explained.
In addition, an agreement was also made to have a joint study between Malaysia and Indonesia on the potential of the border area. “This study will identify the potential on how to develop the border area to benefit both nations,” said Najib.
M e a n w h i l e , N a j i b a n n o u n c e d t h e r ema n d e d f i she rmen who enc roache d into both nat ions’ waters t o fish illegally will be released as soon as possible. Joko also said that the trade between Malaysia and Indonesia in the f i rst term showed an increase of 21 per cent.
“It is a huge increase and I welcome the good initiative of exports from Indonesia to Malaysia through Entekong which is about 25,000 tonnes in last October,” Joko said.
