MALAYSIA ASKS INDONESIA TO SET UP ONE-STOP CENTRE FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya

JAKARTA, June 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has asked Indonesia to set up a
one-stop centre for foreign investors.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the request was conveyed
to Vice President Boediono during a bilateral meeting here Monday.

"The number of Malaysian investors in Indonesia is quite big and many are
still interested but from information we receive, they have to deal with various
bodies at various levels.

"It has become a challenge and problem," he told Malaysian journalists here
Monday afternoon.

Muhyiddin is here for a three-day visit to enhance bilateral ties and
cooperation between the two countries.

The deputy prime minister said Boediono's response was that the one-stop
centre was in Indonesia's interest and he took note of the request.

Also discussed during the bilateral meeting was the sending of Indonesian
maids to Malaysia which has been suspended by Indonesia pending a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) on the matter between the two countries.

Muhyiddin said Malaysia was still waiting for Indonesia to furnish
information about the cost structure of recruiting maids before signing the MoU.

He also said that the issue of 2+2+2 visa for Malaysian students had been
resolved and hopefully Indonesia could speed up its implementation. The majority
of Malaysian students in Indonesia undergo medical courses.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had agreed to Malaysia's request on the
student visa during an annual consultation with Prime Minister Najib
Tun Abdul Razak last month.

Presently, Malaysian students are given a two-year visa which is renewable
annually for up to three times (2+1+1+1). For a subsequent year, they need to
return to Malaysia and apply for a new visa.

Muhyiddin said that during the meeting, he also conveyed Petronas' request
for permission to sell subsidised fuel at its pump stations in Indonesia.

Petronas has acquired 31 lots of land to set up pump stations and has
developed 19 of them but because it is not allowed to sell subsidised fuel, the
venture has not been profitable.

The deputy prime minister said Boediono had explained that it was not easy
to fulfil the request because Indonesia was trying to reduce fuel subsidy.

Malaysia also asked Indonesia to give protection to Malaysian investors,
especially their land ownership in the republic.

"I mentioned a case to Boediono, namely Sime Darby's plantation which has
been brought to court and we asked for a government intervention to ensure the
land belonging to Sime Darby is not auctioned off," he said.

The issue was quite serious and Boediono had said he would look into this
case and others so that the investment by Malaysian companies in Indonesia would
be protected, Muhyiddin said.

On the Indonesian school in Kota Kinabalu, he said the project had started.

Indonesia, however, has requested for permission to expand the school so as
to accomodate 45,000 Indonesian children in Sabah.

"I informed him that we need to get more information before we can consider
and decide on the matter," he said.

Indonesia has stated that under the country's law, the government is
responsible in providing education for its citizens no matter where they are.

Also discussed was the proposed opening of Institut Teknologi Bandung's
branch in Muar, Johor.

-- BERNAMA



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