RI, MALAYSIAN ACADEMICIANS DISCUSS CLOSER RELATIONS

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 7 (ANTARA) - Indonesian and Malaysian academicians of various higher learning institutions had two days of discussions starting on August 6, 2009 at Universitas Malaya, Selangor, to commemorate the independence of the two countries both declared in August, and promoting the close friendship between the two neighboring countries.

Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Social Sciences Prof Dr Mohammad Redzuan Othman opened the discussions, with Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Da'i Bachtiar was the keynote speaker, at the UM faculty of letters in Selangor, Thursday.

Indonesia's leading academcians attending the discussions included Prof Dr Sarlito Sarwono of University of Indonesia (UI), who raised the Manohara case: Student Perceptions and Relations between Malaysia and Indonesia, and Prof Mohtar Mas'oed from Gajah Mada University (UGM) talked about Post-Liberal Economic and Political Policies in Indonesia: Like Awaiting Slicing".

The Indonesian academicians attending the discussions came from UI, UGM, Univ Andalas, Univ Paramadina, Unair, Unhas, Unpad, UIN Malang, and IAIN Imam Bonjol in Padang.

In his address, ambassador Da'i said that when PM Najib Tun Razak visited Jakarta, and met President Yudhoyono, he said further efforts will be made to expand relations with Indonesia.