President Soeharto to visit Malaysia

President Soeharto to visit Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Indonesia's President Soeharto is to make a two-day visit to Malaysia beginning Sunday, a Malaysian foreign ministry official said yesterday.

Soeharto had originally planned a working visit to Malaysia on July 9 but it was canceled because he had to undergo a medical checkup in Germany.

A state dinner to be hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will be held on Sunday in honor of Soeharto, the official said.

Soeharto is scheduled to hold talks with Mahathir on Monday, during which they will discuss regional and bilateral issues, including the disputed sovereignty over two islands off the coast of Borneo.

He is also expected to have an audience and lunch with Malaysia's King Tuanku Ja'afar Abdul Rahman, the official said.

The Indonesian embassy here declined to give details of Soeharto's visit, saying the date has not been confirmed.

The two countries have overlapping sovereignty claims over Sipadan and Ligitan, two small islands between the Malaysian state of Sarawak and the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan.

Malaysia wants the dispute taken to the International Court of Justice, while Indonesia preferred to have it settled through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.

Soeharto and Mahathir are also expected to try to resolve a row over Indonesia's bid for the top post in a global rubber organization.

Malaysia had accused Indonesia of sabotaging Kuala Lumpur's attempt to succeed Thailand as executive director of the International Natural Rubber Organization (INRO).

Kuala Lumpur has threatened to abandon the INRO if Indonesia continues with its challenge for the post.

Soeharto last visited Malaysia in July 1993 when he held talks with Mahathir in the northern island resort of Langkawi.