JAKARTA: The 11th Annual Consultation between leaders of Malaysia and Indonesia has achieved progress on a wide range of bilateral issues.
The first such meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) under the Annual Consultation framework was held at the Presidential Palace here today.
At a joint press conference after the meeting, Najib said Malaysia and Indonesia have called for trilateral cooperation with the Philippines to address kidnappings and piracy in the Sulu Straits.
"We want the three countries to continue discussions on trilateral measures to address kidnappings in the Sulu Straits," said Najib, who is on a three-day working visit to Indonesia.
He said measures such as coordinated naval and air patrols have reduced piracy cases in the Malacca Straits, and a similar approach could be taken by Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines in the Sulu Straits.
Najib said both leaders also called for efforts to find a clear solution to defining maritime boundaries between Malaysia and Indonesia, especially in the South Sulawesi waters, where fisherman from both countries have been caught for encroachment.
"There's been some progress made, but still far from a comprehensive solution. We both agreed to give new direction for a final comprehensive solution that would be agreeable to both countries soon," he added.
On the issue of migrant workers, Indonesia welcomed Malaysia’s rehiring and voluntary deportation programmes to address the issue of Indonesian undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia.
Both leaders agreed to strengthen close coordination between related officials of both countries in reviewing and implementing the above-mentioned programmes.
Najib and Jokowi earlier witnessed the signing of two Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs). The first was between Bank Negara Malaysia and Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK) on the Asean Banking Integration Framework, and the second on establishing the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) Secretariat in Jakarta.
Indonesia and Malaysia jointly account for 85 per cent of global palm oil production and 91.2 per cent of global exports.
Najib said both leaders also discussed economic cooperation between the two countries, and reiterated their target to achieve USD30 billion in total bilateral trade in the near future. Malaysia is the second largest investor in Indonesia.
The prime minister said positive measures have been taken by Indonesia to be more investor-friendly under Jokowi's administration.
The 12th Annual Consultation will be held in Malaysia in 2017.