Malaysia, Indonesia Committed To Strengthening Bilateral Ties, Especially In East Java

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Feb 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Indonesia are committed to strengthening their bilateral relations, particularly in East Java, by expanding cooperation at various levels, including government-to-government, business sector and community relations.

Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin said he had met with Governor-elect Khofifah Indar Parawansa during a visit to Surabaya, East Java province, last week.

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"We are committed to deepening cooperation at the provincial level, especially after Khofifah's appointment as governor," he told Bernama.

Syed Mohamad Hasrin congratulated Khofifah on her victory in the 2024 gubernatorial election and expressed his determination to enhance cooperation between Malaysia and East Java.

Khofifah, known as a charismatic leader, has a long career in government, including serving as minister of women's empowerment, minister of social affairs and being active in Indonesia's influential Islamic organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama.

He said Khofifah's appointment as East Java governor, scheduled for Feb 20, would be a significant milestone in enhancing bilateral cooperation.

During the visit, Syed Mohamad Hasrin also highlighted Malaysia's focus on exploring opportunities for increased investment in East Java.

In 2024, Malaysia had invested US$48 million in East Java, especially in the oil and gas, telecommunications and banking sectors.

He praised East Java for having rich natural resources, infrastructure standards and a strategic location, which could contribute to the province's competitiveness in the global market.

Apart from meeting with Khofifah, Syed Mohamad Hasrin also met with the Rais 'Aam (spiritual leader) of Nahdlatul Ulama, KH Miftachul Akhyar, to strengthen ties with the Islamic organisation, which has over 80 million members.

He also visited the second largest port in Indonesia, Tanjung Perak Port, where he discussed with the head of the Customs and Taxation Monitoring and Services Office, Dwijanto Wahjudi, on increasing cooperation with the Malaysian embassy's Customs Counsellor's Office.

To strengthen Malaysia-Indonesia relations in the field of defence, Syed Mohamad Hasrin paid a visit to the Indonesian Navy's Second Fleet Command at Dermaga Ujung.

Discussions with First Admiral Eriyawan focused on maritime security cooperation, joint patrols, and strategic cooperation, including information exchange and joint training with the Royal Malaysian Navy, especially within the framework of the bilateral cooperation mechanism of the General Border Committee of the two countries.

The visit concluded with a tribute to the 53 crew members of the KRI Nanggala-402 submarine who died in an accident during a training exercise in the Bali Sea in April 2021.

He also paid a visit to PT PAL Indonesia to review the company's expertise in the shipbuilding industry.

-- BERNAMA