'Our ties on the right track'

2009/11/23

MALAYSIA-INDONESIA bilateral relations are on the right track, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday. The visit by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Malaysia and his meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had further paved the way for enhancement of relations between the two countries, he said.

"To further strengthen the close relations between the two countries following the meeting of the prime minister and president, it is essential that we also meet at other levels."

Muhyiddin said efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries should also involve the private sector.

Following Susilo's visit to Malaysia, which was reciprocated by Najib's visit to Makassar last week and now his visit to Bandung, Muhyiddin is confident that the two countries' special and close relations have been further strengthened.

He made the remarks at the end of a three-day visit here, which saw him meeting Indonesian officials and ministers as well as Malaysian students enrolled in local universities.

Speaking after an informal luncheon meeting with Indonesian Maritime and Fisheries Minister, Fadel Muha-mad here, Muhyiddin said his discussions with the Indonesian minister involved maritime and fisheries issues.

He said Fadel had, among other things, asked Malaysia to boost its import of fish and fish products from Indonesia.

Fadel also requested for Malaysian expertise and investments for setting up ice factories for the fishery industry.

Muhyiddin said Malaysia had set up an ice factory in Aceh and hoped other Malaysians would take advantage of the opportunity.

Asked about a report saying that Indonesian Customs confiscated 75 tonnes of explosives from a Malaysian ship, Muhyiddin said he had not received any report on the matter but would look into it.