Malaysian king to pay state visit

JAKARTA (JP): Malaysian King Ja'afar Abdul Rahman will arrive here tomorrow for a five-day state visit, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said yesterday.

He is scheduled to hold talks with President Soeharto and visit Central Java and Bali.

"This visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Malaysia and Indonesia," Moerdiono said.

The king and President Soeharto, however, will not touch substantial issues during their talks, Moerdiono said.

"His Royal Highness is also expected to receive a honorary doctorate degree from Diponegoro University in Semarang," the minister said.

The state-run university will present the honorary degree Saturday, in recognition for his outstanding role in boosting cooperation between Malaysian and Indonesian universities, according to Rector Muladi last week.

The king is scheduled to present a scientific oration titled "The efforts to improve cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia".

"Given his background and contribution to forging ties between Indonesia and Malaysia, we feel it is necessary to award such a degree," said Muladi, adding that several ambassadors and ministers from some ASEAN countries will also attend the presentation.

The Malaysian king is revered as a person with esteemed academic credentials as he studied at Nottingham University, Oxford University and the London School of Economics.

The king will be accompanied by his wife Queen Najihah Binti Al-Marhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin and they will stay at the State Guest House.

State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita will brief the king Friday on Indonesia's development progress.

"The king will also visit Saturday the grave of the late first lady Ibu Tien Soeharto in Surakarta," Moerdiono said.

The king will leave for Surabaya Saturday where he will spend one night before departing for Bali. He will leave for Kuala Lumpur Tuesday. (prb/har/09)