INDONESIA, MALAYSIA TO DISCUSS FIGHTING TERRORISM

JAKARTA, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- Indonesia and Malaysia will step up efforts to
fight terrorism, which will be discussed when President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
and Prime Minister Najib Razak meets.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said he, however, could not yet
give the date for the meeting, but possibly it would be in October before
Susilo's inauguration as president of the republic for the second term.

"We need to step up our cooperation in combating terrorism," he said after
accompanying Susilo during a farewell courtesy call by Malaysian ambassador to
Indonesia Zainal Abidin Mohamed Zin at the Presidential Palace, here, Friday.

Hassan said Zainal Abidin, who ends his duty here this Sunday, and President
Susilo did not discuss the matter in detail, other than on strengthening
bilateral relations between the two countries.

Hassan, however, said that there already existed close cooperation between
Indonesian and Malaysian police, including in the exchange of information on
terrorism.

Zainal Abidin said he conveyed his thanks and appreciation for Susilo and
the Indonesian government's efforts and cooperation in resolving issues that
arose in the two countries' bilateral relations.

According to Hassan, Susilo opined that issues that cropped up from time to
time in Indonesia-Malaysia relations were part of living as neighbours, but what
was more important was their commitment to resolve the issues amicably.

Earlier, Zainal Abidin also made a farewell courtesy call on Indonesian
Vice-President Jusuf Kalla at the latter's office.
-- BERNAMA