Moving into a new era
The Star – 13 January, 2006
BUKIT TINGGI (West Sumatra): Malaysia and Indonesia want to go beyond contentious issues to chart a new era in bilateral ties and to cooperate in areas that are beneficial to both sides, particularly in economy and trade.  
Both countries have agreed not to allow issues that could fan emotions among the people in both countries, including the joint claims on land and sea borders, distract them from the pursuit of building stronger ties.   Speaking at a joint press conference at the end of their inaugural annual consultation here yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said, in the long term, they were keen to look for solutions to these issues that would benefit both sides.  
This, they said, could include the possibility of managing and developing these areas together.  In almost the same words, both said the possibility was there for future consideration so that the wealth in the Straits of Malacca, the East China Sea and the oil-rich Sulawesi sea could be jointly exploited by both countries.  
Abdullah said these issues had been discussed during his one-on-one meeting with Susilo but they were unable to find an acceptable solution.   He added that the a joint monitoring system would be set up to prevent the smuggling of illegally felled timber from Kalimantan into Malaysia.  
“Today we have proven that the strong spirit of cooperation among us is still very much alive,” he said.  
On the issue of illegal Indonesian workers, Susilo said it had been agreed that a joint taskforce be set up to tackle the problem.  
“We have also strengthened our resolve to work together in tackling regional terrorism and trans-boundary crimes, particularly human trafficking and illegal logging,” he said.  
One of the major achievements of the historic meeting that both Abdullah and Susilo termed as “very successful and very satisfactory” was the announcement on the possible involvement of Malaysian companies in various projects in Indonesia costing over RM8bil. 
Three Memorandums of Understanding were inked during the consultation.  
Source: The Star | http://thestar.com.my