VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo received the visit of former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the President's office at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Thursday, August 30, 2018. 

In this meeting, the President was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono.

After the meeting, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that the purpose of Anwar Ibrahim's visit was to stay in touch with President Jokowi. Especially considering that Anwar Ibrahim was only elected as President of the Malaysian People's Justice Party (PKR) on August 5, 2018, replacing Wan Azizah who is also his wife, as reported by a press release of the Deputy for Press, Protocol and Media Presidential Secretariat, Bey Machmudin.

"He exchanged ideas in many ways. Mr. Anwar Ibrahim conveyed greetings from Tun (PM Mahathir Mohamad). Two days before meeting the President, he met with Tun," the Foreign Minister said.

The Foreign Minister said PM Mahathir conveyed a very good impression with the results of his visit on Friday, June 29, 2018. Prime Minister Mahathir also said a commitment to continue strengthening relations with Indonesia.

"Even Pak Anwar Ibrahim said this was a very appropriate time for Indonesia and Malaysia to improve relations," the Foreign Minister continued.

In addition, in the meeting which lasted about 30 minutes the President also entrusted Indonesian citizens (WNI) in Malaysia to Anwar Ibrahim.

"Both of them also said that it is important that we continue to work together in fighting for oil palm," said the Foreign Minister.

For information, the PKR Party was part of the coalition that won the Malaysian election last May. In the election, Mahathir Mohamad was elected as prime minister. (kemensetneg)