INDONESIA HOPES TO ENHANCE COOPERATION WITH MALAYSIAN MEDIA

KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 (Bernama) -- Indonesia hopes to enhance further the
cooperation with the Malaysian media, particularly Bernama, so as to ennhance
ties between the people of both countries.

Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Da'i Bachtiar said communication and
mutual understanding were crucial in improving ties between the people of
Malaysia and Indonesia.

"We hope, surely through the media, the existing programmes will be expanded
by consensus including those initiated by EPG or the Eminent Persons Group to
restrengthen people-to-people contact especially among the younger
generation.

"Therefore, among the fields where cooperation can be forged between the
embassy and Bernama are programmes for journalists; later may be there will be
events that can be held like exhibitions, workshops or anything, which can bring
many more information to both the Indonesian and Malaysian communities," he said
when visiting Wisma Bernama here.

During the visit, he met Bernama general manager Hasnul Hassan and spent
about half an hour at several units in the news agency.

Bachtiar said that generally, Indonesians felt very close to Malaysians and
considered both countries as sharing the same root because of the historical
background and lineage.

In view of this he said the people would feel very sensitive if
misunderstandings between the two countries occur.

Bachtiar suggested for the relevant parties in both countries to meet and
have dialogues more frequently to find solutions that could enable people in
Malaysia and Indonesia understand each other better.

He said his side also hoped to forge cooperation in education so as to
enhance ties between the younger generations in both countries.

Presently, 14,000 Indonesian students study at Malaysian universitis while
Malaysian students there are about 5,000.
-- BERNAMA