RI, Malaysia plan huge joint exercise
RI, Malaysia plan huge joint exercise
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Malaysia are planning a massive
joint military exercise for later this year.
The plan is part of the agreements reached by the two
neighbors, whose delegates concluded their 24th General Border
Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The Indonesian delegation was led by Armed Forces Commander
Gen. Feisal Tanjung and the Malaysian by Defense Minister Datok
Syed Jaafar Albar.
Feisal and Albar said in a joint press statement that the date
and the venue as well as the number of personnel involved in the
war games have yet to be determined, though they did agree on the
standard procedures of the exercise, the Antara news agency
reported from Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The two countries have been conducting smaller military
exercises on a routine basis for a number of years.
The committee also agreed to further develop the socioeconomic
projects for people living on their common borders, especially
those along the borders of Sarawak in West Kalimantan and Sabah
in East Kalimantan.
In anticipation of disasters along their sea boundaries, such
as the busy Malacca Strait, the two countries agreed to step up
cooperation in their search and rescue operations.
The next General Border Committee meeting will be held in
Jakarta this November.
Earlier yesterday, when addressing the meeting, Feisal invited
Malaysia to evaluate the 24 years of Indonesian-Malaysian
military cooperation in view of the fast changing global economic
activities.
"This (evaluation) is needed so that we can prepare realistic
policies for the welfare of the people of the two countries,"
Feisal said.
He explained that their cooperation has undoubtedly been
successful in safeguarding security, especially in the Malacca
Strait, a vital shipping lane for international economic and
trade activities.
Working together, Feisal added, is also important to help
maintain the mutual trust between Indonesia and Malaysia. "I
believe everyone agrees that the General Border Committee has so
far contributed something positive to our countries," he said.
Meanwhile, Albar supported Feisal views, saying that there is
no reason for anyone to question the border committee because
both the Malaysian and Indonesian people are aware of its
productive nature.
Although the cooperation has been doing well in anticipating
military challenges, Albar said the two nations should be
prepared to adjust a rise in criminal acts, drug trafficking and
international terrorism.
If not properly handled, he said, the problems could undermine
political and economic stability in both countries. (pan)