Deputy PM Lee meets Hamzah Haz

Deputy PM Lee meets Hamzah Haz

JAKARTA: Visiting Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong held a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Vice
President Hamzah Haz on Tuesday to discuss the latest
developments in Indonesia ahead of the elections.

According to Hamzah, Lee asked about security and economic
conditions in Indonesia over the past few years.

"I told the deputy prime minister that the elections will give
strong legitimacy to the next administration as the president
will be elected directly by the people," Hamzah said.

Lee is in Jakarta for a three-day visit and had met President
Megawati Soekarnoputri on Monday, where he stressed that
Indonesia was an important neighbor for the city state.

Later on Tuesday, Lee did not attend a meeting with Indonesian
Muslim leaders because Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Chairman Hasyim
Muzadi failed to show up at the meeting.

Lee held a closed-door meeting, instead, with Muhammadiyah
Chairman Syafii Ma'arif, as he was the only participant that
managed to fulfill the invitation.

On Wednesday, Lee is slated to meet People's Consultative
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais. -- JP