RI, M'sia border cooperation enhancement is necessary

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 12/11/2008 8:23 PM  |  World

Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed Thursday to enhance their cooperation in border-related issues in anticipation of increased criminal activity following on the economic downturn.

Speaking at a press conference at the 37th meeting of the Indonesia-Malaysia General Border Committee (GBC Malindo), Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said shoring up border cooperation between the two nations was necessary.

"Intelligence cooperation is ongoing, however, it needs to be stepped up to anticipate a possible increase in crimes spurred by the global economic downturn," Badawi said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

"We should not be easily satisfied with what we have achieved, because criminal activities continue to occur in the border areas," added the prime minister, who is also Malaysia's current defense minister.

Earlier in the day, Indonesia's defense minister, Juwono Sudarsono, said Indonesia and Malaysia had a common interest in promoting the prosperity of people living along their shared boundaries, in protecting them, assuring their security, and preserving the environment at their frontiers.

Nevertheless, he added, the two parties should not become complacent because more dynamic and complex problems continue to occur along the borders.

"Efforts to deal with nontraditional security threats and challenges such as smuggling, terrorism, illegal logging, illegal fishing and human trafficking -- which have been discussed many times at Southeast Asian regional forums -- need to be strengthened at this bilateral level as well," Sudarsono said.

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