Malayasia, Indonesia to Discuss Maritime Boundary Issues
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his Indonesian counterpart Jusuf Kalla are expected to discuss maritime boundary issues during his three-day official visit to Indonesia starting Today (Tuesday).
Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamad Hashim said the discussion on the issue as a follow-up meeting between the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during his visit to Malaysia in February.
Malaysia and Indonesia, which have the two-biggest economies in Southeast Asia, are neighbors, and have a “love-hate” relationship nearly 58 years-old running. Malaysian Prime Minister Naijb Rajak visited Jakarta in October 2014 and President Jokowi visited Kuala Lumpur in February this year. Both countries frequently engage in a war of words over issues ranging from borders to culture.
Malaysia and Indonesia were trying to resolve maritime issues, including the detention of Malaysian fishing vessels as well as their common sea borders.
Indonesian president, Joko Widodo (known as Jokowi) and Najib Razak, the prime minister of Malaysia, agreed to create a special envoy to explore maritime issues as a prelude to more formal discussions in the future. Disputes over maritime borders between Indonesia and Malaysia were described by Najib as "long-standing and complex".
As a first step towards reducing maritime-related tensions, the two leaders also agreed that fishermen moving into disputed waters would be chased away without any legal action being taken, while those who were present illegally in Malaysian or Indonesian waters would be arrested and would face prosecution.
