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