MALAYSIA-INDONESIA TO INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO REALISE STRATEGIC GOALS

PUTRAJAYA, May 18 (Bernama) -- While expressing satisfaction at the positive
state of the bilateral relations, Najib Tun Razak and Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who met today for their annual consultation,
have agreed to intensify efforts to realise strategic goals and measures of
mutual interest.

These include enhancing bilateral cooperation by revitalising the Joint
Commission Meeting (JCM) mechanism and strengthening diplomatic representation
through the expeditious resolution of issues relating to properties of both
governments.

In a joint statement issued here after the Seventh Annual Consultation
between the Prime Minister and Susilo, both leaders also agreed to intensify
efforts to realise the goals of resuming discussions on resolving economic
issues through the convening of the Second Joint Trade and Investment Meeting in
the third quarter of 2010.

Other strategic goals stated are ensuring that the rights of both Malaysian
employers and Indonesian domestic workers are protected through the conclusion
of negotiations on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Recruitment and
Placement of Indonesian Domestic Workers.

Goals also included increasing air connectivity through the revision of the
MoU on Cooperation in Aviation, concluding negotiations on the MoU on
Cooperation in Combating Illegal Logging and Trade in Timber and Timber
Products.

Other goals to be realised are concluding the MoU on fisheries cooperation,
facilitating cross-border education by concluding the MoU on student visas for
education programmes and increasing tourist arrivals through the renewal of the
MoU on tourism cooperation.

Najib and Susilo reaffirmed their pledges to intensify bilateral
intelligence and law enforcement cooperation to combat security threats.

These include establishing joint mechanisms to promote the exchange of
financial intelligence as well as to combat money laundering.

On trafficking in persons (TiPs), both leaders reiterated their strong
commitment in working together to combat such crimes and called on the countries
of origin to take all necessary measures to avoid their people from fleeing to
third countries, including addressing the underlying causes of TiPs that made
people vulnerable to exploitation.

The statement said Najib and Susilo also agreed to ensure the safety and
security of maritime navigation within their maritime areas, including the
Straits of Melaka and the South China Sea.

The leaders also recognised that the long-standing bilateral economic
ties
formed a substantial foundation of relations between the two countries, and
acknowledged the need for the two to work together in further accelerating
economic growth to give rise to new dynamic trade linkages.

In this regard, they welcomed Indonesia’s proposal to convene the Second
Joint Trade and Investment Committee Meeting in the third quarter of 2010.

Najib also encouraged Indonesian corporations to increase their investment
in various industries in Malaysia and at the same time, both leaders stressed
the need to facilitate such cross-border investments as well as to gradually
remove non-tariff measures and other impediments to trade.

On the issue of Indonesian domestic workers, both leaders undertook to
expedite internal procedures with a view to adopt the revision of the Memorandum
of Understanding on the Recruitment and Placement of Indonesian Domestic Workers
in Malaysia expeditiously.

Recalling the Malaysia-Indonesia Eminent Persons Group (EPG) Report
submitted on March 17, 2009 in Jakarta, both leaders acknowledged the progress
of implementing the Report’s recommendations for enhancing bilateral relations
on a people-to-people level.

Both leaders shared the view that Malaysia and Indonesia should continue
cooperation in international fora such as the United Nations, Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC),
as well as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Both leaders were satisfied with the outcome of the consultations and
believed that the year 2010 would be another successful year for
Malaysia-Indonesia relations.

The two leaders further deemed that this year should be a major milestone to
mark growth and change for both countries.

-- BERNAMA