Jakarta, KL again agree to ease tension
Jakarta, KL again agree to ease tension
Agencies, Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur
Indonesia said on Wednesday it had made a fresh protest to
neighboring Malaysia after ships from their navies confronted
each other in potentially oil-rich waters claimed by both
countries.
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said Indonesia's navy chief
would meet with his Malaysian counterpart on Batam island near
Singapore this week in a bid to ease tensions.
"We conveyed the protest yesterday. We stated our stance in
this case and, in one (or) two days, the two navy chiefs will
meet on Batam island to ease tensions in the field," he told a
news conference.
The incident involving two ships off Indonesia's East
Kalimantan province, part of Borneo island, on Friday heightened
tensions between the two oil producing nations.
Indonesia's navy has said the ships "brushed" when the
Indonesian vessel tried to drive away the Malaysian vessel. Local
newspapers reported the vessels had collided three times but that
no one had been hurt.
Jakarta sent warships and fighter jets to the area last month
after the dispute flared. Both countries have since agreed to
resolve matters peacefully.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said
on Wednesday Malaysia has a "strong case" for sovereignty over an
oil-rich maritime area also claimed by neighboring Indonesia.
Malaysian warships, which have recently come into close
contact with Indonesian navy vessels, would remain in the area
east of Borneo island to protect the territory, he told a news
conference.
"They (Malaysian warships) have not left the area. We also
think we have a strong case," Abdullah said.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said Malaysia regarded the
territory as its own and hence had the right to have a naval
presence in the area.
"That area is regarded as our territory. We have the right to
be there whenever we want," he said.
The two countries have locked horns over the region before. A
dispute over the ownership of two islands ended in December 2002
with an International Court of Justice ruling the islands belong
to Malaysia.
Indonesia launched an anti-Malaysia campaign over the future
of Borneo island in 1963 after the British relinquished control.
The row ended three years later as Jakarta focused on internal
problems.