KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia and Indonesia are to discuss maritime issues, including the detention of Malaysian fishing vessels as well as their common sea borders.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, who earlier met his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi, said the two countries would continue to sort these issues through existing mechanisms.

“The two countries have agreed to discuss the detention of Malaysian fishing trawlers by Indonesia through existing channels,” he said after the three-hour meeting held here yesterday ahead of the Asean foreign ministers retreat beginning today.

“We also discussed the voluntary repatriation of Indonesian workers from Malaysia,” he told a press conference.

He said his talks with Retno were also to prepare for the inaugural visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Malaysia from Feb 5 to 7.

Anifah reiterated that Malaysia would be pushing for moderation as a means of promoting regional peace and security during its tenure as Asean chairman.

On the setting up of the Asean Community, he said: “We hope the Asean Community Vision and its Attendant Documents will be ready for consideration by the Asean Coordinating Council before it is adopted at the 27th Asean Summit later this year.”

He said the 10-member grouping hoped to bolster the development of small and medium enterprises that make up 97% of businesses in the region while expanding intra Asean trade and investments through cross border trade activities.-thestar