Dr M arrives in Indonesia for official visit
JAKARTA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad arrived here yesterday for a two-day official visit to Indonesia.
Dr Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport here at 6.05pm (local time).
Dr Mahathir and his wife were greeted on arrival by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
Present were Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Hadi Tjahjanto, Chief of Indonesian National Police Tito Karnavian and Malaysia’s Deputy Chief of Mission Zamshari Shaharan.
Dr Mahathir will attend a luncheon hosted by Joko Widodo today. The visit will provide a platform for the two leaders to strengthen the bilateral relations of both countries.
It would also allow Malaysia to highlight the government’s latest policies and its stand particularly on issues of mutual benefits.
“Indonesia had been looking forward to the visit because of the status of the prime minister as the most senior leader among the leaders of Asean,” Zamshari told Malaysian journalists yesterday.
While at the Presidential Palace in Bogor today, Dr Mahathir will be given the honour to plant the Angsana tree with Joko Widodo.
“The selection of the Angsana tree is symbolic because it is a very strong tree, long-lasting and thus symbolises the strong foundation of the bilateral ties between Malaysia and Indonesia in line with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations,” he said.
The prime minister is scheduled to return to Kuala Lumpur at 5.45pm today.