INDONESIA-MALAYSIA MILITARY EXERCISES MUST CONTINUE - DEFENCE MINISTER

MASJID TANAH (Malaysia), Sept 13 (Bernama) -- Defence Minister Dr Ahmad
Zahid Hamidi said Sunday joint military exercises between Indonesia and Malaysia
must continue to be held although a senior Indonesian military commander had
reportedly called for a review of the war games.

He said such exercises had been going on for years in the common interest
and should not be discontinued due to an isolated maritime incident which
resulted in protests by a small group in Indonesia.

"I hope the military commanders of both countries would not adopt an
emotional approach to the joint exercises," he told reporters after an
Aidilfitri open house at his in-laws' house in Kampung Empang Batu, here.

Dr Ahmad Zahid was asked to comment on an Indonesia media report quoting a
senior military commander calling for a review of the joint exercises.

There were anti-Malaysia protests in Jakarta recently after seven Malaysian
fishermen were arrested by Indonesian maritime authorities for allegedly
trespassing in Indonesian waters near Bintan island on Aug 13, and the
subsequent detention of three Indonesian maritime officers by Malaysian marine
police. All the fishermen and officers have since been released.


Dr Ahmad Zahid said the Malindo Darsasa 7AB/2010 exercise in Melaka last
April involving the three wings of the Malaysian and Indonesian commando units
was beneficial to both countries.

"By rotation, a similar exercise is scheduled in Indonesia in 2014, this
time involving tactics and up-to-date arms," he said.

Melaka Head of State Mohd Khalil Yaakob and Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam
were among the hundreds of people who attended the open
house hosted by Dr Ahmad Zahid.

-- BERNAMA