Government, House meet over row with Malaysia

The House of Representatives’ Commission I on defense and foreign affairs is holding a hearing with top government officials over the ongoing row with Malaysia.

Attending the evening hearing which is led by commission chairman Mahfud Siddiq are Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Justice Minister Patrialis Akbar, Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi, Indonesian Military commander Gen. Djoko Santoso, State Intelligence Agency head Sutanto and National Police general monitoring inspector Comr. Gen. Nanan Sukarna.

Marty briefed the lawmakers update of the diplomatic measures attempted by the government to deal with the row, which was sparked by detention of three Indonesia fisheries and maritime officers by Malaysian police earlier this month.

The minister said his office was finalizing a diplomatic note to protest the detention, which occurred after the Indonesian officers captured seven Malaysian fishermen for alleged fish poaching in Riau Islands waters.

Marty denied accusations that the Foreign Ministry was slow in drafting the diplomatic note, which he said was a confidential state document.