Yudhoyono Leads RI Delegation To Annual Consultation Meeting In Malaysia

Putrajaya, Dec 18 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono led a delegation here to the 9th annual consultation meeting with Malaysia on Tuesday. His delegation included Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Manpower Minister Muhaimin Iskandar, Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Education Minister Mohammad Nuh and Industry Minister MS Hidayat. Before the meeting, he was scheduled to hold a private meeting with Malaysian prime minister Najib Tun Razak and attend a state dinner afterwards. Presidential special aide Teuku Feizasyah said earlier that the meeting would discuss a number of issues such as protection of Indonesian citizens and migrant workers, trade, border issues and investment. President Yudhoyono is also scheduled to receive an honorary degree in Philosophy from the University of North Malaysia. The President�s visit to Malaysia this time is amid rising tensions between the two countries, after former Malaysian information minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidini criticized former Indonesian President BJ Habibie as a �traitor� in a newspaper article. After seeing a Habibie and Ainun film on Monday, President Yudhoyono expressed disapproval of the Malaysian minister`s statement, saying it had hurt the feelings of the Indonesian people and could also disrupt relations between the two countries. "I would raise the issue at the meeting in Malaysia so in the future we can be more considerate to each other and be more respectful in order for our partnership and friendship to not be disturbed," he said. From Malaysia, President Yudhoyono will leave for India to attend an ASEAN-India summit.