Malaysia-Indonesia Border Technical Committee Must Find Amicable Solutions To Border Issues - Envoy

By Azeman Ariffin JAKARTA, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- The Joint Malaysia-Indonesia Border Technical Committee must not be rigid in nature but find solutions to border disputes, especially disputes involving maritime borders, amicably. Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said both parties sitting in the committee must find ways and means to address such issues with an open mind so as to give the best feedback to the governments of both countries. Zahrain said border issues are technical issues which involves the sentiments of both countries, as such, the committee must adopt an open mind to find solutions quickly for the benefit of both countries. He was speaking to reporters when answering questions from a number of MPs from Indonesia (Members of Parliament) during his courtesy call on the Republic's Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Speaker, Setya Novanto, here Thursday. Zahrain said the focus of the committee must be to find a solution to the dispute in the Sulawesi waters and once a solution had been found, the same formula could be used to resolve similar issues between the maritime borders of Malaysia-Indonesia. He said discussions to find a solution to the Sulawesi maritime border issue has been going on for 10 years now but both countries have yet to find an amicable solution. Prime Minister Najib Razak when attending the Annual Malaysia-Indonesia Conference in Jakarta last year said both countries agreed to resolve maritime border issues because a complete solution would require a form of comprehensive decision acceptable to both countries soon. Meanwhile, earlier in his speech, Zahrain said the embassy was planning a number of meaningful activities to usher Malaysia-Indonesia's 60 years of diplomatic relations. He said the relationship between Malaysia-Indonesia was not confined to being neighbours alone but established on a brotherhood in terms of language and culture. "Apart from strengthening bilateral relationship, we need to focus on 'people to people' initiatives through the various community programmes organised," he said. Zahrain said Malaysian had also pledged to ensure the welfare of the country's people in Malaysia through various initiatives, including opening a school for Indonesian nationals known as "Community Learning Centre" in Malaysia. --BERNAMA