KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Indonesia look to reduce border-related disputes with the installation of a hotline between their defence ministries.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (pic) said the hotline would act as a direct channel of communication to eliminate conflict arising over illegal fishing, breaches of sovereignty, territorial disputes and piracy.
“In setting up this hotline, we hope to quickly resolve any issue or dispute which may arise in the future,” he told reporters after meeting his Indonesian counterpart, Ryamizard Ryacudu, at the Defence Ministry here yesterday.
Ryamizard said the hotline would be a good way to maintain the good long-term relationship between the two countries.
Relations between the two countries had been tense recently over the sinking of a Malaysian fishing boat on Jan 8 for illegal fishing in Indonesian waters off the coast of Pulau Pandang in northern Sumatra.
Several other foreign boats found fishing in Indonesian waters were also sunk by the Indonesian authorities in the last few months.
Hishammuddin said other issues discussed included the Islamic State (IS) threat and combating crimes such as smuggling.
The meeting also touched on increased cooperation between security forces through military training and exercises, exchange of personnel and sharing of information and facilities.
On another matter, Hishammuddin said Vietnam had given its assurance it stood united with Malaysia in condemning the Islamic State (IS).
He said Vietnam shared Malaysia’s sentiments on the situation in southern Philippines where Muslim rebels had declared their allegiance to IS.
“The Minister of National Defence for the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Gen Phùng Quang Thanh agreed that the IS threat is real.
“Gen Phùng also conveyed his country’s non-recognition of the terrorist organisation,” he said in a statement,
Hishamuddin said Gen Phùng advocated Vietnam’s joining in the proposed Asean Peacekeeping Force, which would operate under the Asean flag with participation from all 10-member states.-thestar
