VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (VOI News) - The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, on Wednesday (2/9), summoned the Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia to clarify the news about the prohibition of long term pass holders from the Philippines, Indonesia, and India.

Malaysian Government stated on Monday that the country will prohibit long term pass holders of the three countries from entering the country's territory to prevent imported cases of Covid-19. The policy will take effect from September 7, 2020.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Teuku Faizasyah said that his party was aware of this policy from reports in the media in Jakarta via short messages on Wednesday (2/9).

Teuku said the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had summoned the Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Zainal Abidin Bakar, to clarify the news.

"For this reason, today (Wednesday), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked the Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia to provide clarification and has summoned him to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ask for clarification on the news," Teuku said.

Teuku added that the Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Zainal Abidin Bakar would convey the results of the talks to the Malaysian government and inform them that the policy was temporary and would be reviewed every week.

Responding to the Malaysian government's policy that prohibits holders of long-term residence permits (long term pass) from Indonesia from entering Malaysian territory, Teuku said the government urged Indonesian citizens not to make overseas visits except for very urgent needs.

"Indonesia again urges Indonesian citizens not to travel abroad, except for very, very urgent and unavoidable needs. But we will see the developments in Malaysia, and we will certainly provide some kind of notification through the travel advisory mechanism owned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," Teuku said.

Teuku Faizasyah further said that overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic requires good cooperation and communication between countries.

According to Teuku Faizasyah, Indonesia and Malaysia are ASEAN member countries, even the founders of ASEAN, so that the spirit of ASEAN must be manifested in cooperation in handling COVID-19. (VOI / AHM)