Indonesian president, Malaysian PM discuss border issues

The Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, is committed to strengthening the protection of Indonesian migrant workers and also fair law enforcement for them.

 

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, and the Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, discussed a number of issues on various fields in a meeting at the official residence of the Malaysian Prime Minister, at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya, Malaysia, Thursday (June 8).

Among the issues was related to the process of negotiating territorial sea boundaries which has been successfully completed after almost 18 years, the Indonesian Cabinet Secretariat said in a written statement quoted by Indonesia Window on Saturday.

“I welcome the completion of the negotiations of territorial sea boundaries in the Sulawesi Sea and the southern part of the Malacca Strait after 18 years of negotiation. After 18 years (the negotiations) can be completed. Thank God, thanks to Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” President Widodo stated in a joint press statement after the meeting.

The president also expressed his hope that other border negotiation processes can be completed in the near future, including those on the borders at Sebatik and Sinapad–Sesai.

President Widodo also welcomed the completion of a number of memorandums of understanding between the two countries, including those related to the border crossing agreement, the border trade agreement, certification of halal (permissible to consume according to Islam) and investment promotion cooperation.

During the meeting, President Widodo and PM Anwar likewise discussed the protection of Indonesian migrant workers. The president appreciated PM Anwar Ibrahim’s commitment to strengthening protection and fair law enforcement for Indonesian workers.

“I and Pak (Mister) Anwar agreed to form a bilateral special mechanism to resolve the issue on Indonesian migrant workers,” the president said.

“I also encourage the Community Learning Center on the Peninsula to be realized immediately, and also Indonesian citizens who are at the Immigration Depot can also be sent home immediately, and the one channel system must be optimized,” he continued.

The head of state also encouraged collaboration to fight discrimination against palm oil and other commodities, and he appreciated the joint mission carried out by Indonesia and Malaysia to Brussels.

“Don’t let the commodities produced by Malaysia, by Indonesia, be discriminated against in other countries,” he stated.

Editing by Indonesia Window