Malaysia-Indonesia Relations Remain Close Despite Change Of Leaders - Megawati

JAKARTA, March 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia-Indonesia relations have remained close despite the change of leaders of both countries, said former Indonesian president Megawati Soekarnoputri. She could feel the closeness and has good relations with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and former prime ministers Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Dr Mahathir Mohamad. "I hope this close relations will continue," she said at a dinner organised by the Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia at the residence of the Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Zahrain Mohamed Hashim here, on Saturday night. Megawati said Malaysia-Indonesia relations were respected since both countries are leading ASEAN. Also present at the dinner were Zahrain's wife, Che Mahani Ismail, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Yasonna Laoly and Cabinet Secretary, Pramono Agung. At the event, the guests were treated to songs by Zahrain and Megawati, Malaysian food including Black Thorn durians. Megawati was scheduled to leave for Kuala Lumpur to deliver a keynote address at a seminar on child sexual crime on Monday. Later, Zahrain told reporters that Malaysia-Indonesia close relations were evident when Megawati was willing to attend the casual dinner. He said the presence of Megawati's entourage shows that Malaysia-Indonesia relations were more than diplomatic, and akin to relations between siblings. --BERNAMA