EXPLORING NEW AIR ROUTES TO STRENGTHEN INDONESIA-M'SIA TIES

JAKARTA, April 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Indonesia will explore the
opening of new air routes between the two countries and landing rights for
Malaysia's airline companies in some Indonesian cities.

Prime Minister Najib Razak said the matter was among the areas of
cooperation in promoting tourism discussed at the meeting between the visiting
Malaysian delegation led by him and the Indonesian delegation headed by
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Thursday in conjunction with his official
visit to the republic.

"We discussed new landing rights for Malaysia's airline companies, whether
MAS, AirAsia or Firefly. These are for the new destinations we are looking at to
promote tourism and strengthen ties between the people of both countries," he
told Malaysian reporters at the end of his visit.

Najib said trade between Malaysia and Indonesia which had increased by 16
per cent in 2007-2008 was also focused on at the meeting where President Susilo
hoped the trend would continue.

He said although the growth in trade was not encouraging this year, both
countries hoped it would be better in future.

Najib said the manpower aspect was also important for the governments and
people of both countries, with Indonesia expressing its satisfaction with some
of Malaysia's efforts to improve the Indonesian migrant labour situation.

"They are aware and appreciate the fact that we are dealing with the issues
through the legal process," he said, adding that Malaysia had finalised the
induction course required for Indonesian migrant workers which should be
conducted in Indonesia.

The prime minister also said that President Susilo had invited Petronas to
participate in the gas project in the waters of Natuna Islands and this matter
would be further discussed by the two countries.

"We also discussed cooperation in the oil palm sector as Malaysia and
Indonesia produce almost 90 per cent of the world's palm oil requirement," he
said, adding that a new area of cooperation was the setting up of more palm oil
refineries in Indonesia.

"This is to enable Indonesia to export more processed palm oil instead of
crude palm oil, while strategic industrial planning by both contries would
determine the stock levels, and enhance R&D and oil palm replanting."


Also touched on at the bilateral meeting participated by seven Malaysian
cabinet ministers, was cooperation in the area of food security, whereby
Malaysia could by rice from Indonesia if required and if Indonesia has surplus
production.

On agriculture, Najib said discussed was that Malaysia, in its effort to
reduce agriculture input costs, could buy products made from maize produced by
Indonesia, considering the high price of livestock feed in Malaysia.

Asked about his views on Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral relations, Najib said
currently it was very good, warm and friendly, whether at the top official level
or at the personal level of those with the political will to resolve issues.

"With such good relations, I believe there no problems too big to be
resolved amicably through discussions in the spirit of brotherhood," he said.

The prime minister said in his meetings with the Speakers of the Indonesian
House of Representatives (DPR) and the People's Consultative Assembly MPR), they
too spoke about strengthening cooperation and viewed positively the strong
foundation and future of the bilateral ties.

On relations and cooperation at the international level, Najib said both
countries were prepared to offer assistance in fighting sea piracy like in the
waters off Somalia as both countries had good experience in looking after
security in the Straits of Malacca.

-- BERNAMA