"According to plans, there will be a battalion of marines stationed in the region," he said while on Nipah island here on Saturday.
He added that the location is considered strategic, with regard to state defense and security.
The battalion will maintain security in the Strait of Malacca in the Indonesian waters, he said.
He added that the marines would also guard the border to combat trans-national crimes, in cooperation with the police.
On the outermost island of Nipah the President and entourage visited the base housing soldiers guarding the border.
He and First Lady Any Yudhoyono also planted trees to assist in the re-forestation of the island, which has been reclaimed at a cost of million dollars.
On a plaque set up on the island, President Yudhoyono wrote "Defend our outermost post for the sake of the country`s sovereignty."
President Yudhoyono arrived on the island aboard naval ship KRI Diponegoro after visiting Singapore and delivering a keynote address at the Shangri La Dialog on Asia Pacific Defense and Security. He had also attended a meeting with Singapore`s prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, and had tea with Singapore`s president, Tony Tan Keng Yam.
While in Singapore, the president also met with US Senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman.
President Yudhoyono will spend a night on the island before leaving for Jakarta on Sunday. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
