I have received direct order from President Joko Widodo to maintain and strengthen relations with MalaysiaKuala Lumpur (ANTARA) - Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto visited Malaysia on Thursday, his first overseas visit since he was installed as a member of the Jokowi cabinet line-up on October 23, 2019.
Subianto was greeted by Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamad bin Sabu, Deputy Defense Minister of Malaysia Liew Chin Tong, and Malaysia's Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force, Army and Navy, upon his arrival at the Malaysian Defense Ministry office. Subianto headed a 22-member delegation comprising the Defense Ministry's Defense Strategy Director General MG Rizerius Eko, Expert Staff in charge of international cooperation Soemadi Brotodiningrat, lawmaker Sugiono, and the Indonesian Embassy's Naval Attaché Colonel Renny Lilik Asmoro.
The two ministers held bilateral talks, had lunch together and later addressed a joint press conference.
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During the bilateral talks, they discussed issues of common interests for the two countries, global security, and threats from terrorism.
They also expressed a commitment to strengthen defense cooperation for regional stability, harmony and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
"Defense cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia, particularly between the Malaysian Defense Forces and the Indonesian Defense Forces, has been established since 1972. The relations have been strengthened with several bilateral defense initiatives such as Malacca Straits Patrol and Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement involving the Philippines," Mohamad bin Sabu said.
Subianto said, he chose neighboring Malaysia as a destination of his first overseas visit as Indonesia's Defense Minister.
"I have received a direct order from President Joko Widodo to maintain and strengthen relations with Malaysia. For me, this is like a homecoming because as a child, I grew up in Kuala Lumpur. I went to school in Kuala Lumpur, so I feel at home here," he said.
"We share many similar views, hence I am optimistic that in future the defense relations between Indonesia and Malaysia will be better. We want to achieve better forms of cooperation such as exchange of officers, exchange of students between Indonesia and Malaysia, and cooperation in defense industry," the retired general said.
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Translator: Agus Setiawan, Fardah
Editor: Sri Haryati
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