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National scene: Malaysia apologizes for border breach
The Indonesian Military (TNI) said on Tuesday that Malaysia had apologized for an illegal border crossing carried out by one of its helicopters on Sebatik Island, North Kalimantan
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he Indonesian Military (TNI) said on Tuesday that Malaysia had apologized for an illegal border crossing carried out by one of its helicopters on Sebatik Island, North Kalimantan.
TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Fuad Basya said that the neighboring country had sent an apology letter after the Indonesian Foreign Ministry asked for clarification from the Malaysian government.
Fuad said the letter explained that the pilot, who was carrying a Malaysian minister as a passenger, could not clearly see the border between the two countries.
'[The pilot] wanted to avoid landing in a wet field, so instead he flew the helicopter into our territory,' Fuad said as quoted by tempo.co on Tuesday.
Despite the apology, the TNI plans to file a complaint with the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Ministry.
The Malaysian helicopter, on which Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zaid Hamidi was reportedly traveling, landed on Tuesday on Sebatik Island without permission.
The chopper remained on the ground for about five minutes, but no one alighted. When a TNI soldier approached it, the aircraft took off again and returned to Malaysian territory.
