RI, Malaysia to maintain security in border areas

RI, Malaysia to maintain security in border areas

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Malaysia agreed on Tuesday to
improve joint intelligence and patrol activities to maintain
security in border areas.

Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen.
Wiranto and his Malaysian counterpart Dato Abang Abubakar
revealed the plans at a media conference. They led their
delegations to the 27th general border committee meeting here to
discuss bilateral cooperation in security. The meeting was held
after Abubakar paid a courtesy call on President B.J. Habibie at
Merdeka Palace.

Wiranto said they also agreed to set up command posts in
border areas in Kalimantan and enhance joint patrols in the
Strait of Malacca to prevent smuggling, piracy, environmental
damage and theft of marine resources.

Wiranto said the two countries would also help maintain
harmony between their peoples in the border areas and help
improve their welfare.

Abubakar said both countries agreed to reduce the scale of
joint military exercises because of the economic crisis affecting
them. Joint exercises in search and rescue operations, however,
would continue in case of traffic accidents in border areas.

Regarding bilateral problems, Mohammad Yacob Dasto, Indonesian
envoy to Malaysia, said the countries were awaiting a decision by
the International Court on the disputed Sipadan and Ligitan
islets in East Kalimantan which both countries have claimed.
(rms)