NAJIB'S VISIT TO INDONESIA HUGELY SUCCESSFUL

By Mohd Nasir Yusoff

JAKARTA, April 23 (Bernama) -- Najib Razak kicked off his first overseas
visit as the Prime Minister on a high note, with commitment from Indonesia to
further strengthen bilateral ties, increase cooperation in new areas and resolve
any problem through negotiation.

In a meeting between Najib and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
at the Istana Merdeka this morning, both leaders also agreed to explore two new
areas of cooperation namely in the defence and energy sectors.

Indonesia is offering Petronas, Malaysia's national petroleum corporation,
to take part in the oil and gas project in the Natuna waters.

Najib, on the other hand, offered cooperation in the electricity sector by
utilising the energy produced by the Bakun hydroelectricity project in Sarawak
to supplement the electricity needs in Kalimantan, and the channelling of
electricity to Peninsular Malaysia through undersea cables which pass through
Indonesian waters.

"I am very satisfied with the discussion this morning and also with the fact
that Indonesia elevated my working visit into an official visit," he told a
joint news conference with Susilo after the meeting Thursday.

Earlier Najib was accorded a full welcoming ceremony at the palace compound
where he inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by members of the special
presidential guard, accompanied by a 19-gun salute.

Earlier in the morning, Najib, accompanied by wife Rosmah Mansor and seven
Malaysian ministers, laid wreaths at the Kalibata warriors' mausoleum.

Susilo and wife Ani Yudhoyono greeted them on arrival at the mausoleum.

The Indonesian president said that Najib's choice of Indonesia as his first
destination was an great honour to Indonesia and its people.

"I believe Najib will be able to continue enhancing the close ties with
Indonesia. Even in the era when he was still the Deputy Prime Minister, he was
actively involved in any discussion with Indonesia," said Susilo.

He also outlined areas of cooperation agreed previously which would be
enhanced under Najib's leadership, namely food security, palm oil industry, rice
production, oil and gas, tourism and manpower.

Thanking Malaysia for providing jobs to Indonesian workers and a school for
their children in Kota Kinabalu, Susilo said he also hoped that Malaysia would
allow the setting up of study centres for children of Indonesian workers in
rural East Malaysia state of Sabah on Borneo island.

At the regional level, both leaders agreed, among other things, to cooperate
in tackling hijacking of ships of both countries in waters off the coast of
Somalia and the problems of Rohingya refugees who landed in both countries.

They also discussed cooperation at the Asean plus three level.

To a question, Susilo said Indonesia was of the view that the Ambalat issue
be settled in an amicable way so that both countries could also cooperate in
exploring the opportunities in the area.

Answering a question, Najib said the choice of Indonesia as his first
destination was not only due to its historical significance and cultural
similarities but also due to Indonesia's size.

Indonesia, he said, has a population ten times bigger than Malaysia's.
"I am very much looking forward for a closer cooperation," said Najib,
adding that Susilo was the first foreign leader who contacted him to convey his
best wishes on his appointment as the Prime Minister.
-- BERNAMA