SUSILO TO VISIT MALAYSIA FIRST TO DEMONSTRATE CLOSENESS IN TIES, SAYS PM

By Mohd Nasir Yusoff

JAKARTA, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had decided, right on the day
he was inaugurated as the head of state for a second term Tuesday, to make
Malaysia the first country he would visit in his second term.

He said Susilo informed him of this intention to demonstrate, beyond any
doubt, the closeness in the relations between the governments of Malaysia and
Indonesia.

Najib said he himself decided to attend the inauguration of the Indonesian
president here Tuesday, also to demonstrate the closeness in the bilateral
relations.

"Besides expressing his thanks, he also informed me that as a gesture of the
closeness of bilateral relations, he had decided to make Malaysia the first
country he would visit as the president in the second term. The date of the
visit is Nov 11," he said.

Najib, who was accompanied by his wife Rosmah Mansor and Foreign Minister
Anifah Aman, arrived here Monday night to attend the inauguration of Susilo as
the president and Boediono as the vice-president here Tuesday.

Najib said that he had no opportunity in Tuesday's schedule to discuss
bilateral or multi-lateral issues with Susilo and only exchanged pleasantries.

"I think of more importance is the symbolism of the closeness of our
bilateral relations," he told Malaysian journalists. Anifah was also present at
the news conference.

Replying to a question, Najib said he did not regard Malaysian-Indonesian
relations as going through ups and downs as the ties were always consistent and
close.

"I do not regard them as ups and downs. In fact, all the while we strive to
find ways to strengthen the relations and resolve problems which arise," he
said.

Najib said the problem was in people-to-people relations, caused by a small
group of people whose actions received wide publicity in the media.

"This is what gives the perception that we are moving towards tense
relations, but the fact is the leadership of both countries always enjoy cordial
relations," he said.

He also said that the cordial bilateral relations were also confirmed in the
ties between the foreign ministers of both countries.

Najib is scheduled to return to Kuala Lumpur Tuesday night.
-- BERNAMA