VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia and Malaysia has agreed to accelerate negotiation on boundary issue between the two countries. The negotiation which is conducted by the two countries, is hoped to be able to produce an agreement, namely Border Crossing Agreement (BCA) within two months. Because border trade will not begin if the BCA is not resolved. This was stated by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno Marsudi in a joint press statement with Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister, Saifuddin Abdullah at Gedung Pancasila, in Jakarta, on Monday (23/7).

“For land border, we are negotiating called Border Crossing Agreement. So,we are checking Border Crossing Agreement together. We agree that within one until two months, we can finish it. So, if BCA has finished, we can begin to discuss its border trade. Because there is no cooperationin border trade if its border crossing is not finished yet. Because of that, we see OK, we will push to resolve Border Crossing Agreement/BCA, at least within two months” she stated.

Furthermore, Minister Retno Marsudi explained for border point at sea area, Malacca Straits and Sulawesi Sea will become the priority to be negotiated in a short time. After the two points of the border are agreed and formalized,the negotiation will be continued to other border points. In addition, the two countries also have given full mandate to the technical team and from the stakeholders related to the border of the two countries. The team will report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which later determines the thing which should be finished. Malaysia is neighboring country with the longest border area with Indonesia, both land and maritime border. (VOI/REZHA/Trans Yati/AHM)

The European Union’s Black campaign which discriminate palm oil commodity has become focus of attention in a billateral meeting between Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi and her Malaysian counterpart, Saifuddin Abdullah. After the meeting which was held at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, on Monday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi told the media that Indonesia and Malaysia will continue cooperating although the trialog process between the two countries and the European Union has been done. In addition, the minister also states that the two countries has sent an official letter to the European Union to respond to the trialog process.

"For the palm oil, the trialog process has been done but we still need to continue cooperating for the post-trialog. I said that I have sent the letter to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the European Union and he said that he would send his letter to respond this trialog process. Therefore, he also conveys to the President that Indonesia and Malaysia do not have other choice besides cooperating firmly to respond the negative campaign of the palm oil," said Retno Marsudi.

Formerly, Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohammad said to President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, that Malaysia and Indonesia needed to cooperate to fight for the palm oil because the European accusation that the production has damaged the environment was not true. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad believes that the reason why Europe commits the negative campaign towards the palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia  tends to business motive only. However, all the reason that is conveyed is always about the problem of environment which has been contradicted by various researches done by Indonesia and Malaysia. Related to the environment issue and the palm oil, Indonesia is one of the members of Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) that is formed in 2004. RSPO contributes to inform the eternal palm oil and cercitication system of the palm oil. Indonesia is committed to European Union through the European sustainable palm oil project in 2015. The project was held to help increasing the obedience towards certification standard which is suitable with RSPO definition (VOI/Rezha/AHM)

Israel has formally passed the Jewish Nation-State Law which is perceived to further marginalize the Palestinians in the country. The ratification of the law, according to Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, in addition to denying the rights of the Palestinians, it will also threaten efforts to resolve the conflict based on the two state solutions. This was stated by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs in a joint press statement with Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister, Saifuddin Abdullah in Jakarta, Monday (23/7).

“I want to convey one thing, namely on the legalized Jewish Nation-State Law on July 19 by Israel parliament. The legalization of the law has denied the rights of the Palestinians in Israel and threaten the conflict solution based on the two state solutions”she said.

The Israeli Parliament, the Knesset has passed a new law defining the Israel as the country of the Jewish. The law is controversial as it is increasingly marginalizing the Palestinians or ethnic Arabs who have long complained of being treated as the second class citizens. As a result of the enactment of the law, the Palestinians will lose five rights, including the right to acquire and lease land, the right to return, the right to stay, the right to have a family, and the right to commemorate the Birthday of the State of Israel as a day of mourning or Nakba Day. (VOI/Rezha/Trans-Yati/AHM)

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi conducted a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister, Saifuddin Abdullah at Gedung Pancasila, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta, on Monday (23/7). On the occasion, the government ofMalaysia directly declared its preparedness to assist educational access to the children of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia. According to Minister Saifuddin Abdullah in a press conference along with minister Retno Marsudi, Malaysian government will facilitate  development of Indonesia’s school in Sabah to complete Indonesia’s school in Kuala Lumpur and Johor which have been built before.

“We conveyed that Malaysian kingdom is ready to facilitate the requirement of building Indonesia’s school which has existed in Kuala Lumpur andin Johor. But Indonesia’s request is school in Sabah. So, we will facilitate it” he said.

Meanwhile, minister Retno Marsudi conveyed her appreciation on Malaysian government’s policy which supports to give educational access for Indonesian Migrant Workers’ children in  Malaysia. According to minister Retno Marsudi, there is different  mindset from Malaysian government under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamadwhich gives priority on educational access for school-aged children, including Indonesian Migrant Workers’ children. Currently, Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to cooperate in developing Community Learning Centre (CLC) for children of  Indonesian Migrant Workers in Malaysia. The two countries will keep discussing the right location to add the number of new CLC. Furthermore, minister Retno Marsudi said that she will also discuss efforts to develop Indonesia’s school and CLC with Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture. (VOI/REZHA/TRANS-YATI/AHM)