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ndonesia and Malaysia wrapped up on Thursday a two-day meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation to discuss maritime borders and migrant workers, resulting in some points of convergence to settle the issues.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and his Malaysian counterpart Dato’ Sri Anifah bin Haji Aman said the two countries had agreed to intensify efforts at the technical level on the two issues.

Regarding migrant workers, both countries discussed the cost structure scheme that takes into account the cost of sending migrant workers from Indonesia to Malaysia, which could affect the migrant workers’ wages.

“We were discussing the cost structure, although we have yet to go into detail about the wage. But we both have agreed to ensure that the scheme should not further burden migrant workers,” Marty said after the meeting.

He said the minimum wage for migrant workers had been stipulated in a letter of intent signed in May. The letter also laid out the rights of the workers to hold onto their passports and to have a day off work every week.

On maritime borders, the two countries are drafting rules of engagement to outline important points to prevent unpleasant incidents in border areas, especially after the Aug. 13 incident in which Indonesian maritime patrol officers were arrested by Malaysian authorities in the Malacca Strait.  

“We are determined to prevent ugly incidents from recurring by intensifying border talks and finalizing the rules of engagement. We have seen some developments at the technical level since the Kinabalu meeting in September,” Marty said.   

He said the two countries were also working on an agreement on borders in several maritime segments that had not been completed, including in Malacca Strait.

Dato’ Sri Anifah bin Haji Aman said the joint commission meeting resulted in constructive steps in avoiding a recurrence of past problems.

“Both of us have the spirit to reach mutual goals toward better relations in the future. We must not have
any negativity and we must defend this at all costs,” the Malaysian minister said.

“There’s no loser or winner. There should be win-win solutions for both countries.”

To intensify efforts at the technical level, both countries have agreed to set up three working groups on the economy, politics and security, and social and cultural issues.

Minister Marty said the working groups would soon outline their tasks and start working before the next joint commission is held in Malaysia early next year.

Both countries have ongoing maritime disputes in the Malacca Strait, the South China Sea, the Sulawesi Sea and in the waters north of Bintan and Batam Islands, where the latest incident occurred.

The first dispute broke out in 1979 when Kuala Lumpur issued a new map, which outlined Malaysia’s claim to the Ambalat maritime bloc off eastern Borneo.   

Last year, a stunt by Malaysia severely tested ties between the neighboring nations.