MALAYSIAN DPM MUHYIDDIN'S VISIT WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN MALAYSIA-INDONESIA TIES

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya

JAKARTA, June 28 (Bernama) -- Muhyiddin Yassin arrived here this
evening for his first official visit abroad since becoming Malaysian deputy
prime minister, to further strengthen cooperation and bilateral relations
between Malaysia and Indonesia.

The choice of Indonesia as the first foreign country for his official visit
shows the existing close ties between the two countries sharing the same
language and culture, as also demonstrated by the visit of Najib Tun
Razak soon after becoming prime minister.

Muhyiddin and his wife Noorainee Abdul Rahman were welcomed on
arrival at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport here by Indonesia's Deputy Foreign
Minister Triyono Wibowo.

Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin Syed Hassan
and senior embassy officials were also at the airport to welcome the couple.

During his three-day visit, Muhyiddin is scheduled to hold discussions with
Vice-President Boediono and National Education Minister Muhammad Nuh on various
matters.

Among the issues expected to be touched on is the issuance and renewal of
visas for Malaysian students in Indonesia for a two-year period and to be
renewed twice for a two-year period each time (2+2+2).

Currently, Malaysian students in Indonesia who are mostly taking up medicine
are given visas for a two-year period and renewable three times here, one year
each time (2+1+1), and need to return to Malaysia after that to renew their
visas for another year to complete their studies.

Muhyiddin is scheduled to hold a roundtable meeting with representatives of
the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and local captains of
industry with the aim of increasing trade and investment between the two
countries.

Besides hosting a dinner function for students and the Malaysian community
here, the deputy prime minister will also deliver a lecture on "Democracy and
Social Responsibility in Asia" at the Depok campus of the University of
Indonesia.

Muhyiddin will also have a dialogue with Malaysian and Indonesian media
chief editors on the role of the media in strengthening Malaysia-Indonesia
bilateral relations.

-- BERNAMA



Delete & Prev | Delete & Next