AMBALAT ISSUE FOR DISCUSSION AT GBC MEETING

KEPALA BATAS (Malaysia), June 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Indonesia are to
have elaborate discussions on a Malaysian proposal for coordinated naval patrols
in the disputed Ambalat waters in the Sulawesi Sea, Defence Minister Dr Ahmad
Zahid Hamidi said Friday.

He said these discussions would take place at their General Border Committee
(GBC) meeting expected to be held next month.

Malaysia proposed the coordinated patrols to avert any misunderstanding
between the two countries in the area and this had been well received by
Indonesia, he told reporters here.

He had earlier visited the family of an army commando, Corporal Amin Che
Ros, 27, who was killed Thursday when his parachute failed to open during a
jump in a training exercise near here.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said Chief of Defence Forces Gen Abdul Aziz Zainal would
return today from a visit to Jakarta where he had a meeting with Indonesia's
Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono on Wednesday.

He also said that Malaysia hoped that the Indonesian media would not
manipulate the Ambalat issue to raise tension and undermine the good relations
between the two countries.

Ahmad Zahid said a claim that a Malaysian naval vessel had encroached into
Indonesian waters and provoked Indonesian naval personnel was untrue.

"I hope the Indonesian people will not assume that Malaysia had the
intention to trespass (in Indonesian waters) as claimed," he said.

Ahmad Zahid called on all quarters not to sensationalise the Ambalat issue
and said he was confident it could be resolved soon.
-- BERNAMA