We hope with the presence of Malaysian consulate general in Riau Island Province, we don`t have to go to Pekanbaru, Riau Province, any more for coordination.
Batam, Riau Island (ANTARA News) - The Malaysian government plans to open a consulate general in Batam, Riau Island Province, which shares a border with Malaysia`s state of Johor Bahru.

"Our visit here is also aimed at discussing a plan to open a consulate general in Batam," Datuk Nazri bin Ismail, chairman of the Barisan National Backbenchers Club (BNBBC), said when visiting the Batam Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) here Tuesday.

The planned opening of the consulate general is aimed at strengthening the bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries, especially in the border area of Batam, he said.

The consulate general is also expected to boost the economic, manpower, and socio-culture cooperation.

The economic cooperation would help promote investment in both nations. The manpower cooperation could contribute solutions to problems of Indonesian workers in Malaysia, he added.

He believed that the socia-cultural cooperation is necessary to prevent negative sentiments involving both countries` people due to some gossips.

Riau Island Governor HM Sani said a Malaysian consulate general in Batam would facilitate coordination between Riau Island and Johor Baru.

"We hope with the presence of Malaysian consulate general in Riau Island Province, we don`t have to go to Pekanbaru, Riau Province, any more for coordination," the governor said.

The governor called on the Malaysian parliament to speed up the planned opening of the consulate general in Batam.

"We are neighbors, a lot of problems could be dealt with if there is a Malaysian consulate general here," Sani said.

Jujur Hutagalung, a socio-cultural information official at the Indonesian consulate general in Johor Baru, welcomed the plan to open the consulate general office in Batam.

"We will report this plan to the central government," Jujur said.

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(ANTARA)

Editor: Ella Syafputri
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