Megawati returns home from trip abroad
Megawati returns home from trip abroad
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri returned home on Tuesday night after a 12-day trip abroad.
She arrived on a chartered Garuda Indonesia airplane and was met at Halim Perdanakusumah Airport by, among others, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, chief of the State Intelligence Coordinating Board Lt. Gen. (ret.) Arie J. Kumaat, Indonesian Military Chief Adm. Widodo AS, National Police Chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro and Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso.
She left the Malaysian capital Tuesday afternoon, describing her stay there as a success.
Malaysian foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar in Kuala Lumpur said Megawati told him that relations had been further strengthened through her visit, AFP reported.
Although there were a few pending issues between the two neighbors, he said, Megawati was convinced solutions could be found.
During her three-day stay there she also met Deputy Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and called on the king.
Syed Hamid, quoted by Bernama news agency, said Megawati "stated that she was very happy with her visit not only in terms of discussions but also the warmth of ties between her and the deputy prime minister."
Illegal immigration was a major topic of the talks.
During Monday's discussions, Megawati pledged to take steps to help stem the flood of illegal Indonesian immigrants seeking jobs in Malaysia.
"They (Indonesia) agreed to cooperate with Malaysia in every way to curb illegal immigrants coming to Malaysia," Syed Hamid told a press conference after the talks.
He said Malaysia has "a few hundred thousand" illegal immigrants, most of them Indonesians. "To us this is a serious figure."
The immigration department last month said it has set itself the target of repatriating 100,000 people next year to make the country free of illegal immigrants.
A total of 97,147 illegal immigrants were deported last year, of whom 83,190 were Indonesians. There are about 700,000 legal foreign workers in the country.
Megawati, however, also asked Malaysia to employ more Indonesian workers.
"We said we will take in foreign workers based on our needs.
"We said the question of illegals must be tackled. I think she understood the situation very well. They agreed that there must be a proper structure (for the entry of workers)."
Syed Hamid said Indonesia also asked Malaysia to increase trade and investment.
In the 10 months to October last year, two-way trade was worth 12 billion ringgit (US$3.15 billion), with the balance in Indonesia's favor.
The Malaysian minister said Kuala Lumpur welcomed the suggestion but stressed that "Indonesia must be able to create business confidence" as investment would depend on confidence in political stability.
"Malaysia will continue to hold to its policy that the best way to (promote) changes is economic development. The best way of ensuring regional security is by prospering thy neighbor," he said.