RI, Malaysia plan huge joint exercise<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Malaysia are planning a massive
\njoint military exercise for later this year.<\/p>\n
The plan is part of the agreements reached by the two
\nneighbors, whose delegates concluded their 24th General Border
\nCommittee meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian delegation was led by Armed Forces Commander
\nGen. Feisal Tanjung and the Malaysian by Defense Minister Datok
\nSyed Jaafar Albar.<\/p>\n
Feisal and Albar said in a joint press statement that the date
\nand the venue as well as the number of personnel involved in the
\nwar games have yet to be determined, though they did agree on the
\nstandard procedures of the exercise, the Antara news agency
\nreported from Kuala Lumpur yesterday.<\/p>\n
The two countries have been conducting smaller military
\nexercises on a routine basis for a number of years.<\/p>\n
The committee also agreed to further develop the socioeconomic
\nprojects for people living on their common borders, especially
\nthose along the borders of Sarawak in West Kalimantan and Sabah
\nin East Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
In anticipation of disasters along their sea boundaries, such
\nas the busy Malacca Strait, the two countries agreed to step up
\ncooperation in their search and rescue operations.<\/p>\n
The next General Border Committee meeting will be held in
\nJakarta this November.<\/p>\n
Earlier yesterday, when addressing the meeting, Feisal invited
\nMalaysia to evaluate the 24 years of Indonesian-Malaysian
\nmilitary cooperation in view of the fast changing global economic
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
\"This (evaluation) is needed so that we can prepare realistic
\npolicies for the welfare of the people of the two countries,\"
\nFeisal said.<\/p>\n
He explained that their cooperation has undoubtedly been
\nsuccessful in safeguarding security, especially in the Malacca
\nStrait, a vital shipping lane for international economic and
\ntrade activities.<\/p>\n
Working together, Feisal added, is also important to help
\nmaintain the mutual trust between Indonesia and Malaysia. \"I
\nbelieve everyone agrees that the General Border Committee has so
\nfar contributed something positive to our countries,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Albar supported Feisal views, saying that there is
\nno reason for anyone to question the border committee because
\nboth the Malaysian and Indonesian people are aware of its
\nproductive nature.<\/p>\n
Although the cooperation has been doing well in anticipating
\nmilitary challenges, Albar said the two nations should be
\nprepared to adjust a rise in criminal acts, drug trafficking and
\ninternational terrorism.<\/p>\n
If not properly handled, he said, the problems could undermine
\npolitical and economic stability in both countries. (pan)<\/p>",
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