WORKING GROUPS BOOST FOR MALAYSIA-INDONESIA JOINT COMMISSION - PM NAJIB

PUTRAJAYA, May 18 (Bernama) -- Several working groups are to be set up under
the Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Commission to step up bilateral ties, Malaysian
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said Tuesday.

He said Foreign Minister Anifah Aman would visit Indonesia next
month to identify the areas and work out the terms of reference of the groups.

Speaking to reporters after a four-eyed meeting with visiting Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the annual consultation here, Najib said
the commission would have to report the progress of the working groups every
three months to the leaders of both countries.

Najib said both sides agreed that the commission become the mechanism to
monitor and take steps to resolve any arising issue between the two neighbours.

"So, there is a feeling from both sides that we should re-energise the joint
commission so that more issues can be resolved," he said.

The prime minister also said that the joint commission was also a mechanism
to seek out new areas which could be discussed to enhance Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta
ties.

Susilo arrived Tuesday to attend the 7th annual consultation between the
leaders of both countries and also to address the 6th World Islamic Economic
Forum (WIEF) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Wednesday.

-- BERNAMA