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)