JAKARTA, March 12 — Malaysia-Indonesia relations have remained close despite the change of leaders of both countries, said former Indonesian president Megawati Soekarnoputri.
She could feel the closeness and has good relations with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former prime ministers Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“I hope this close relations will continue,” she said at a dinner organised by the Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia at the residence of the Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim here, last night.
Megawati said Malaysia-Indonesia relations were respected since both countries are leading ASEAN.
Also present at the dinner were Zahrain’s wife, Datin Seri Che Mahani Ismail, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Yasonna Laoly and Cabinet Secretary, Pramono Agung.
At the event, the guests were treated to songs by Zahrain and Megawati, Malaysian food including Black Thorn durians.
Megawati was scheduled to leave for Kuala Lumpur to deliver a keynote address at a seminar on child sexual crime tomorrow.
Later, Zahrain told reporters that Malaysia-Indonesia close relations were evident when Megawati was willing to attend the casual dinner.
He said the presence of Megawati’s entourage shows that Malaysia-Indonesia relations were more than diplomatic, and akin to relations between siblings. — Bernama
