Writing it right to boost Malaysia-Indonesia ties

NST

PUTRAJAYA: Umno and Indonesia's Partai Golkar will step up exchange of media representatives in an effort to reduce, if not put an end to, sensational stories that could affect bilateral ties between the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said this was discussed during a meeting between Umno leaders led by him and a 25-member Golkar delegation headed by Indonesia's House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono yesterday.

The meeting at Najib's official residence lasted more than two hours.

"The media there is too open and they like to sensationalise stories that happen in Malaysia.

"Most of the stories actually involved individuals but they were blown out of proportion and touched the feelings of the people in Indonesia," Najib said.
"At times, the issues were trivial, for instance, the use of the word 'Indon'.

"They will be hurt if we use that word whereas to us here, the word is acceptable. Indonesian workers here when asked where they were from would reply 'I am from Indon' but in the context of the Indonesian people, the word is unacceptable."

Najib said Malaysian leaders visiting Indonesia should make it a point to meet the media there.

Both parties also agreed that working groups be established to implement a memorandum of understanding on political collaboration, signed on Friday before Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"We were unanimous in agreeing that political channels, particularly between Umno, Golkar and Indonesia's other leading parties, be used in finding solutions to any issues arising from time to time," Najib said.

"Questions about manpower, culture and education were also highlighted. It is clear that meetings at various levels and groups between Malaysia and Indonesia are inevitable and need to be held because sometimes, misunderstandings due to small matters could be blown out of proportion and create a negative perception of Malaysia."