Najib thanks Indonesia for opportunities given to GLCs

JAKARTA: Close relations between Malaysia and Indonesia in terms of investment and economy have benefited both countries, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He added that many issues were discussed during the 11th Annual Consultation between him and Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Monday with the aim of taking the ties to a higher level.

Najib thanked the Indonesian government for the opportunity given to Malaysian governmentcompanies (GLCs) to participate in the republic’s infrastructure projects.

He said Jokowi expressed confidence in the GLCs on their ability to shoulder their tasks in terms of building infrastructure projects.

Hence, he said there was a possibility that Malaysian companies could be considered for other projects in Indonesia in the near future.

Najib cited the Cikopo-Palimanan toll highway by PLUS Expressways International Bhd, which was opened by Jokowi recently, as one of them.

“This is yet another project that was given to us based on good relations between the two countries,” he told Malaysian journalists at the end of his three-day visit for the 11th Annual Consultation and the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) here yesterday.

This was further attested with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Sime Darby Bhd, I&P Group Sdn Bhd and SP Setia (Indonesia) Sdn Bhd with PT Hanson International Tbk to jointly develop an affordable housing project comprising 40,000 units, with a gross development value of RM3.5bil.

On the oil palm sector, he said both countries should work together in terms of the importance of the export value of the commodity to both countries.

He also said that Malaysia was Indonesia’s second largest investor and both countries wanted trade between them to reach US$30bil (RM120bil) in the years to come.

In his special message at the WIEF, Najib stated that the Muslim world should clearly reject intervention, which usually was based on incomplete, wrong and biased information.

“We must reject those who have political motive, who urge the foreign powers to intervene in their own country.

“We as the ummah or people, will be responsible for our own future, and pray that we are given guidance in such efforts,” he added.

Najib also said both countries had agreed to find a solution to the issues concerning the waters off the South Sulawesi Sea.

He said Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore had agreed to formulate a framework to resolve the annual haze problem. — Bernama

This is yet another project that was given to us based on good relations between the two countries. datuk seri Najib Tun razak