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)