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JAKARTA: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pix) has called for the links between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta to be further strengthened to a strategic level.
He is confident that stronger bilateral relations will allow the two countries to optimize their existing cooperation, especially in the economy, trade and investment.
“Following our discussion today, I believe that it is time for Malaysia-Indonesia cooperation and relations to be further upgraded on a strategic level,” he said.
He said this at a joint press conference with Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), having held a four-eye meeting in Istana Merdeka here today.
Muhyiddin, who is on an official visit to Indonesia, said the strengthening of cooperation reflects the determination of the two leaders to work together for the mutual prosperity of the two close neighbors.
“In this sense, we have given the mandate to our two foreign ministers to identify strategic fields that can be given priority,” he added.
He expressed his satisfaction that bilateral relations have been strengthened at all levels.
Efforts would also be intensified to revitalize trade and investment between the two countries during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic, Muhyiddin said.
“Preliminary discussions have started at the working level. I hope that both parties can intensify the talks to develop the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the implementation of the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) scheme.
On the campaign against palm oil, especially in Europe, Australia and Oceania, Muhyiddin said that Indonesia and Malaysia, as the two largest producers of the raw material, will continue to cooperate to address this problem of discrimination.
“This is to ensure that we can protect the palm oil industry, especially the millions of small farmers whose livelihoods are completely dependent on this industry in Malaysia and Indonesia,” he added.
On the Myanmar issue, Muhyiddin said that Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta viewed the current political situation in Myanmar with serious concern, as it was a setback for the country’s democratic process.
“It is feared that the political turmoil in Myanmar could affect peace and stability in this region.
“In this regard, I fully agree with the suggestion that both foreign ministers be mandated to reach an understanding for a special ASEAN meeting to be held to discuss this matter further,” said the Prime Minister.
The individual meeting also touched on environmental cooperation, including the issues of climate change and transboundary haze affecting the two countries.
Muhyiddin said that through this cooperation, relevant agencies in both countries could share the best practices available in the management of agricultural and peat soils.
Apart from this, the two ministries involved would also establish a focal point to facilitate communication on environmental issues, including cross-border haze, he added.
The meeting also discussed issues of hiring Indonesian labor and domestic staff, as well as initiatives to safeguard the well-being of Malaysian and Indonesian fishermen operating in troubled maritime areas. – Called
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