RI WILL COOPERATE WITH MALAYSIA IN SPORTS

Jakarta, Aug 18 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian and Malaysian governments will strengthen their friendship and cooperate in sports affairs, a minister said.

"We are still preparing a draft of the cooperation. Of course, we accept the (Malaysian) offer," Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Adhyaksa Dault said here on Tuesday.

Malaysia's sports minister Azalina Othman Said visited Indonesia at the weekend and met with minister Adhyaksa Dault to extend the offer.

However, minister Adhyaksa Dault has yet to respond to the Malaysian offer because his side was still considering which sport games can be listed in the cooperation.

So far, Malaysia has become the Indonesian main rival in sports including badminton.

In addition, Malaysia was always leading in the Sea Games.

The Malaysian government did not apologize to Indonesia over the incident in which an Indonesian karate referee Donald Peter Luther Kolopita was reportedly beaten by four Malaysian police officers last year.

"The important thing now is that we will improve our friendship with the neighboring country," the minister added.