Agong grants audience to outgoing Indonesian Ambassador
KUALA LUMPUR: The Yang diPertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah yesterday granted an audience to the outgoing Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Rusdi Kirana and his wife, at the Istana Negara.
Istana Negara’s Comptroller of the Royal Household, Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, in a statement, said that Al-Sultan Abdullah, during the audience, stated that Indonesia was an important friend and neighbour and that Malaysia was very happy with diplomatic relations between the two countries for the past 63 years, which is now very special, harmonious and optimal at all levels.
Al-Sultan Abdullah also said that as the two neighbouring countries and the founders of Asean, Malaysia would continue to be committed to strengthening relations and cooperation with Indonesia to a more comprehensive level.
“His Majesty hopes that the existing cooperation, especially bilateral economic relations, can be strengthened, and efforts towards Asean economic integration can be achieved in line with the establishment of the Asean Community”, Ahmad Fadil said.
Al-Sultan Abdullah also touched on other bilateral issues such as cooperation on the impact of Covid-19, people’s repatriation between the two countries, the establishment of the Community Learning Centre in Malaysia, the welfare of fishermen of both countries as well as in investment and trade.
Al-Sultan Abdullah also emphasised the importance of both countries to enhance cooperation in investment and trade so that the full potential of both countries in the economic sector can be achieved.
“To strengthen and deepen bilateral relations, Malaysia and Indonesia have adopted bilateral mechanisms such as the Annual Consultation; Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation; General Border Committee; and the Joint Trade and Investment Committee,” Ahmad Fadil said.
Ahmad Fadil said that Al-Sultan Abdullah greatly appreciated Rusdi’s role as the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Malaysia especially during His Majesty’s visit to Jakarta and Jogjakarta, Indonesia in August last year.
Rusdi has also successfully coordinated several important state visits including the official visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Malaysia on August 8 and 9, last year, as well as the official visit of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, when he became the 7th Prime Minister, to Indonesia on June 28 and 29, in 2018.
Rusdi officially served as the 16th Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Malaysia on August 17, 2017 and will conclude his stint in Malaysia and return to Indonesia this Thursday (July 9).