Indonesia and Malaysia Discuss Fighting Terrorism

Indonesia and Malaysia will step up efforts to fight terrorism, which will be discussed when President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Datuk Seri 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 Datuk 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. The officers and staff of the Malaysian embassy here will be organising a farewell do for Zainal Abidin and his wife Datin Robiah Jamaluddin at the embassy tomorrow.(from: JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com)