Malaysia, Indonesia 'should work together against EU curb on palm oil'

Bogor (West Java)

MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad hopes that the strong ties between his country and Indonesia will continue with the two South-east Asian nations working towards further bilateral cooperation.

"I hope the friendship between us can be improved and maintained, because there are mutual benefits if Indonesia and Malaysia work together in all areas, including politics, economy and bilateral relations," he said on Friday in Bogor, West Java.

He added that both countries face similar problems, such as the EU plan to phase out the use of palm oil in transport fuels from 2030, a move that will hit major palm oil producers like Indonesia and Malaysia.

"Now this is threatened by the European Union, and we need to work together against their campaign that (our) palm oil is obtained from deforestation ... this is not true at all," said Dr Mahathir.

"We all can remember when Europe was once covered by forests as well, but they've all been cut down, and we've never protested against them.

"But when we need more land for oil palm, they accuse us of damaging the environment."

He was speaking at a joint press conference with President Joko Widodo at Istana Bogor after they met for bilateral talks earlier.

Dr Mahathir is on a two-day visit to Indonesia, his first to a fellow Asean member-state and only his second overseas trip since taking office again following his surprise victory in the Malaysian general election on May 9.

Dr Mahathir, who has yet to appoint a Foreign Affairs Minister, was accompanied by his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, and several government officials.

"Indeed, our overseas tour begins in Indonesia, because it is the closest country and one with familial relations, said Dr Mahathir. "Malaysians are not foreigners to Indonesians."

Indonesia and Malaysia share close ties and are important trade partners.

Latest statistics show total bilateral trade between the two countries in 2017 was US$17.2 billion, making Malaysia the seventh-largest trading partner of Indonesia and its third-largest trading partner among Asean member-states, after Singapore and Thailand.

In that same year, Malaysia's total investment value in Indonesia reached US$1.2 billion.

More than 2.5 million Indonesians live in Malaysia.

Indonesia rolled out the red carpet to welcome the 92-year-old premier, who was received by President Joko and First Lady Iriana at the Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport in East Jakarta on Thursday evening.

Dr Mahathir on Friday inspected a guard of honour at Istana Bogor, where he was greeted by hundreds of children waving Indonesian and Malaysian flags. He and Mr Joko also planted a tree in the presidential place before they held talks.

The president, in his opening remarks on Friday after his meeting with Dr Mahathir, said it was an honour for Indonesia to be the first Asean state the Prime Minister chose to visit after returning to power.

The president said both he and Dr Mahathir remain committed in the fight against corruption and saw the importance of connectivity while having solutions to border-related issues.

They also discussed how more can be done to protect the Indonesian workforce in Malaysia, the development of schools for Indonesian children in the country, as well as ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea, where Malaysia has conflicting claims with China.

The two leaders attended Friday prayers together at the Baitusallam mosque in the presidential palace before Mr Joko hosted the Malaysian delegation to an official lunch.

Dr Mahathir's trip comes after his visit to Japan earlier this month, where he attended a conference and met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.