Habibie, Estrada express concern over Malaysia

BATAM, Riau (JP): President B.J. Habibie met his Philippines' counterpart Joseph Estrada here on Tuesday and both expressed mutual concern over the domestic situation in Malaysia.

The two leaders also expressed their hope that Malaysia would be able to quickly overcome the present condition there.

"During the private meeting between the two heads of state, the situation in Malaysia was briefly touched upon and the two presidents reiterated their concern about what is happening there," Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said in a joint media conference with his Philippines' counterpart Domingo Siazon following the summit.

Alatas added quickly the two presidents talked in a private capacity and that there was no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of other sovereign countries.

He did not name Malaysia's dismissed finance and deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is a good friend of both Habibie and Estrada.

Asked if the two presidents offered any solutions to diffuse the situation in Kuala Lumpur, Alatas said: "I don't think we should give recipes to other sovereign governments. We do not do that in ASEAN."

Habibie had earlier expressed his sadness over the arrest and beating of Anwar. Estrada had at one point threatened to boycott next month's APEC summit in Kuala Lumpur, a statement he retracted on Monday after a meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

"We think APEC is important but we have a practical problem relating to our present condition with only a President and no vice president at a time when Indonesia is facing severe difficulties," Alatas said.

The first informal summit between the two presidents was delayed for two hours after the Super Puma helicopter provided by the Indonesian Air Force to transport Estrada was unable to take off from Singapore due to engine trouble.

Reliable sources said the perspiring Estrada refused Indonesian officials' offer of another helicopter, instead preferring to take the ferry.

Estrada, who arrived in Singapore for a four-day visit on Sunday, made the side trip to Batam -- about an hour's journey away by ferry -- at the invitation of Habibie.

Estrada arrived at the Melia Panorama Hotel at 7:10 p.m. and had a 20-minute private talk with Habibie before joining a 50- minute plenary session with their respective ministers.

President Habibie apologized to President Estrada for the inconvenience caused by the helicopter's troubles. Accompanied by his wife Hasri Ainun Besari, Habibie flew back to Jakarta late last night on a Garuda Boeing 737-400 flight.

Estrada was ferried back to Singapore. (prb)